The dandelion is the official flower of the military because it blooms wherever it is planted. As Blue Star families and many others say, military children thrive and are resilient in the same way. This sentiment will be celebrated at the first-ever Dandelion Festival at Fort Wadsworth on Saturday, April 30.
Hosted by Blue Star Families of the New York Tri-State Area, the festival is free and open to all, Blue Star family or not. If you’re curious, a Blue Star Family refers to the immediate family members of an active duty service member. Blue Star Families is an organization that works to connect military families to their civilian neighbors to help form strong communities. One way they do this is through community events—which is why everyone is invited to the Dandelion Festival.
“Blue Star Families invites the Staten Island Community to join us in recognizing our resilient military-connected children this April during the Month of the Military Child at the Dandelion Festival,” Andie Coakley, tri-state chapter director of Blue Star Families, said. “Every year we take this time to celebrate these amazing children for their selflessness and sacrifice as they serve our country as part of a military family. Military kids say goodbye more often in their first few years than the average person does in a lifetime, and it is important that we at Blue Star Families make communities aware that there are military children living in their midst.”
This is the first of the festival. The chapter also hosted the festival Katonah, N.Y., this month. Coakley and her team are hoping to make it an annual event.
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What to Expect at the Dandelion Festival
The Dandelion Festival is a community event to celebrate military kids during April. The event will be a fun-filled day with lots of activities planned for kids and families to enjoy. These activities include:
- Exciting exhibits
- Games
- Free giveaways
- Bounce houses
Representatives from many military and service organizations will be on site, too.
What You Need to Know About Visiting the Dandelion Festival
Where is the Dandelion Festival located?
The festival will be at the U.S. Coast Guard Sector New York at Fort Wadsworth, 204 Maloney Dr.
What time is the festival?
The festival is on Saturday, April 30, 11am-4pm.
How much are tickets to the festival?
The event is free. Registration isn’t required, but appreciated, according to Blue Star Families.For more information about the Dandelion Festival, visit bluestarfam.org or follow the organization on Facebook.
