Eleanor “Ella” David, the 2021 Military Child of the Year® for the Marines, has always found solace in the constancy of her musical studies. With each PCS move, playing piano first and later violin and viola allowed her a special outlet and a space to connect in each new community. Ella, 17, lives in Falls … Continued
Dasia Bandy, the 2021 Military Child of the Year® for the Navy, first aspired to be president of the United States when she was 7 years old. As commander-in-chief, she reasoned, she could order her father home from deployment with the U.S. Navy. Now an 18-year-old freshman studying international affairs at The George Washington University, … Continued
Caleb Pipes, the 2021 Military Child of the Year® for the Army, is a cancer survivor, world traveler, and Eagle Scout who embodies resilience and the spirit of helping others. The 18-year-old son of Army Col. Gregory Pipes and Lindsay Pipes, a marriage and family therapist, Caleb is the second oldest of five children. The … Continued
Emma Remley, the 2021 Military Child of the Year® for Innovation, created a legacy of her own at Yokota Air Base in Tokyo, Japan, by building a sensory garden that everyone could enjoy, and in particular other military kids, like her, who cope with anxiety. Emma first battled with anxiety when her father, Air Force … Continued
Nyah Gray, the 2021 Military Child of the Year® for the Air Force, developed powerful resilience as a little girl when her father died. In tragedy, she found refuge in music and academics. Now, the 17-year-old high school junior who lives in Buda, Texas, makes it her mission to find value in people and objects … Continued
Joshua Wouden, the first Military Child of the Year® for the Space Force, is Operation Homefront’s youngest recipient in 2021 at 13 years old. But through volunteering at his church, helping his mom take care of his four siblings when she suffers frequent and debilitating migraines, and displaying leadership skills among his baseball teammates, Joshua … Continued
Liam Cooper, the 2021 Military Child of the Year® for the Coast Guard, is a scholar, an athlete, and he has a desire to help others and a gift for raising money. He has put both to work for organizations such as Wreaths Across America and Bottles for Change. The 18-year-old is a senior at … Continued
Elise Puliafico, the 2021 Military Child of the Year® for the National Guard, is an empathetic leader who wants to help other military children cope with being the child of a parent or guardian with PTSD related to military service. Elise, 18, is the daughter of National Guard Lt. Col. Joseph Puliafico and Lynette … Continued
Like many of the military families Operation Homefront serves, Rebekah Reyes and her husband Edgar started their military journey 1,400 miles from family at their first duty station in Fort Polk, Louisiana. Edgar was a private first class in the Army, and Rebekah was VERY pregnant with their second son. “Looking back, I’m not sure … Continued
Jacob Loya enlisted in the military out of high school because he wanted to serve his country and create a stronger foundation on which to build his life. Jacob is a planner and thinks about the future. At the time, he envisioned his future involving the Army as a career. But then, after getting married … Continued
