Col. Sheyla Baez Ramirez, commander of U.S. Army Garrison-Fort McCoy; Lt. Col. Chad Holder, garrison deputy commander; and Command Sgt. Maj. James Riddle, garrison command sergeant major, sign proclamations March 26, 2026, for April to be observed as Autism Awareness Month, Month of the Military Child, and Child Abuse Prevention Month at Fort McCoy.
The three observance month efforts are in support of the Fort McCoy Family Advocacy Program with the Army Community Service Office as well as the entire installation community.
According to https://riseupforautism.com, “Autism Awareness Month was founded in April 1970 by psychologist Dr. Bernard Rimland to increase public understanding of autism. The National Autistic Society introduced the puzzle piece symbol in 1963 to represent the complexity of autism, which later became internationally recognized. In 1984, President Ronald Reagan issued the first U.S. presidential proclamation recognizing April as National Autism Awareness Month. The United Nations established World Autism Awareness Day on April 2, 2007, marking the official start of the month-long observance.”
The website also states the observance “is dedicated to raising awareness about autism spectrum disorder, celebrating the unique strengths of autistic individuals, and advocating for inclusion and equal opportunities in education, healthcare, employment, and community life. The observance emphasizes not only recognition but also meaningful action, encouraging communities to create supportive environments where autistic individuals can thrive.”
With Month of the Military Child, it recognizes the unique challenges and contributions of military children, who often face frequent relocations, parental deployments, and the need to adapt to new schools and communities, according to https://www.war.gov/Spotlights/Month-of-the-Military-Child.
Established by Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger in 1986, this observance highlights the strength and adaptability of over 1.6 million military children in the United States, the website states.
“Military children play a vital role in supporting their families’ service to the nation,” the website states. “They demonstrate resilience, courage, and adaptability while navigating frequent moves, family separations, and the demands of military life. The observance encourages communities, schools, and organizations to recognize and celebrate these contributions.”
With Child Abuse Prevention Month, it’s a time for communities to come together and take action to support strong families, thriving children, and healthier communities.
The theme for 2026 is “Pinwheels of Possibility,” emphasizing the collective responsibility of families, communities, and support systems in creating safe environments where every child can thrive, states the website, https://preventchildabuse.org.
“Key dates include Wear Blue Day on April 10, the National Week of Action from April 13 to 17, Digital Action Day on April 14, National Home Visiting Week from April 20 to 24, and the National Day of Giving on April 28,” the website states. “These activities aim to raise awareness, drive action, and ensure every child has the chance to grow up safe, supported, and loved.”
At https://thrivefromthestart.org, they also addressed Child Abuse Prevention Month.
“This April,Prevent Child Abuse America(PCA America), a proud member of theThriveFromthe Start network, is recognizing Child Abuse Prevention Month through its 2026 campaign theme,Pinwheels of Possibility,” the website states. “The campaign centers the power of families, communities, and systems working together to createthe conditionswhere all children cangrow upsafe, supported, and full of possibility. As the national symbol of child abuse prevention, the pinwheelrepresentsthe bright, healthy futures every child deserves.”
And at Fort McCoy, numerous events are held by Fort McCoy Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation in support of the observances, including a Movie Night, special craft events, and other family affiliated activities.
Learn more about Fort McCoy’s April observance activities for these observances by visiting https://mccoy.armymwr.com.
Fort McCoy’s motto beginning in 2026 is “Training the Total Force and Shaping the Future since 1909.”
The installation’s mission: “Fort McCoy strengthens Total Force Readiness by serving as a training center, Mobilization Force Generation Installation, and Strategic Support Area enabling warfighter lethality to deploy, fight, and win our nation’s wars.”
And Fort McCoy’s vision is, “To be the premier training center supporting the most capable, combat-ready, and lethal armed forces.”
Located in the heart of the upper Midwest, Fort McCoy is the only U.S. Army installation in Wisconsin. The installation has provided support and facilities for the field and classroom training of more than 100,000 military personnel from all services nearly every year since 1984.
Learn more about Fort McCoy online at https://home.army.mil/mccoy, on Facebook by searching “ftmccoy,” on Flickr at https://www.flickr.com/photos/fortmccoywi, and on X (formerly Twitter) by searching “usagmccoy.” Also try downloading the My Army Post app to your smartphone and set “Fort McCoy” or another installation as your preferred base. Fort McCoy is also part of Army’s Installation Management Command where “We Are The Army’s Home.”
| Date Taken: |
04.01.2026 |
| Date Posted: |
04.01.2026 18:12 |
| Story ID: |
561776 |
| Location: |
FORT MCCOY, WISCONSIN, US |
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19 |
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