The Operation Caring Classroom DVD program features five short chapters including including an active or former member of the armed forces speaking to the children about their background and what Veterans Day means to them. The program is emceed by U.S. Senator John McCain.

Each year children in military families are recognized for serving our country through the Armed Forces Foundation’s (AFF) Operation Caring Classroom (OCC) program. This national education initiative is held in 50 states, awarding one civilian school per state the distinction of being an OCC school. Throughout the year over 16,000 students across the country create letters, strength chains, and patriotic pictures. These students also participate in a variety of activities such as word searches, history lessons, and learning what life is like for children in military families. Students extend support and hope to their peers, especially those facing the hardships of parental deployments, frequent moves, and loss of a loved one. They also have the opportunity to thank children in military families for serving our country, communities, and taking on extra responsibilities at home while a parent is deployed.

In 2007, the AFF and U.S. Secretary of Education, Margaret Spellings, kicked off OCC by helping civilian students at Andrew J. Brown Academy in Indianapolis Indiana write letter of hope and build a strength chain. These support letters and projects were then sent to students at elementary schools on military facilities throughout the United States and were also hand delivered by the AFF to 150 students at Ft. Belvoir Elementary School in F. Belvoir, VA. All 1,370 students received a book as a gift and the student body as a whole received a personalized giant greeting card signed by Secretary Spellings.

During this time, the AFF was honored by the History Channel in New York City with the Take a Veteran to School Day Award. The award was presented by Nancy Dubuc, Executive Vice President and General Manager of The History Channel, as an honorable mention for service and dedication in the work of Veteran’s advocacy. AFF president, Patricia Driscoll, spoke to hundreds of students at three local schools during the day and addressed the importance of supporting military Service Members and their families.

The AFF has expanded the effort to include raising funds to assist with free lunches at Fort Belvoir Elementary, providing holiday gifts to children who have a parent deployed, and creating a book about the life of being a military child.

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