The Story Behind Dandelion Fest: Celebrating Military Kids with Heart and Purpose
Published on April 15, 2025
Written by: Tosombra Kimes, Senior Manager of Chapter Impact Operations
What many now know as Month of the Military Child (MOMC) events hosted across the nation were once just ideas — ideas that, for us at Blue Star Families, needed names as bold and meaningful as the kids we serve. And Dandelion Fest? That name was born in a conversation between two staff members determined to make our events stand out: Karissa Poe, Executive Director for the Tennessee Chapter, and myself, Tosombra Kimes, Senior Manager of Chapter Impact Operations.
Where the Name Came From
In early 2020, Karissa and I (both chapter directors at the time) discussed how to make our upcoming military kid events feel different. We wanted them to be different, not just for the sake of being new but in a way that honored the unique experience of growing up in the military. We knew these events would have heart, and we wanted the name to reflect that — something memorable, something meaningful.
As a proud military brat who attended 10 different schools before graduating from a DODEA (Department of Defense Education Activity) school overseas, I’ve always embraced that title: brat. While not everyone does, many of us wear it with pride. For those unfamiliar, the term “military brat” is believed to have originated from the British Army acronym BRAT: British Regiment Attached Traveler. Over time, it evolved into a term of endearment in military communities around the world.
Even so, I often felt like “military kid” didn’t fully capture the depth of our experiences, especially once we hit the teenage years. I wanted something more symbolic. “You know,” I said to Karissa, “the dandelion is the flower of the military child. Because we bloom wherever we're planted and go through many transitions, often uprooted but always resilient.”
She immediately got it. While I was still brainstorming names like Dandelion Kid or Dandelion Days, Karissa smiled and said, “Let’s call it Dandelion Fest!” And just like that, it clicked.
From Idea to Movement
Later, during a meeting with Blue Star Families’ CEO, Kathy Roth-Douquet, we shared the concept and explained that while each event might look different from chapter to chapter, the heartbeat would remain the same: uplifting and celebrating military-connected children. Kathy loved it! She loved the term Dandelion Fest so much that she championed making it our official name for MOMC events across Blue Star Families.
Since then, what started as a simple name has blossomed into something more significant. It is a unifying theme, a celebration, and a symbol of recognition for our resilient, adaptable, and extraordinary military kids.
A Celebration That Honors Every Story
Whether you call it a MOMC event, a military kid celebration, or a Dandelion Fest, the most important thing is this: Every military child deserves to be seen, valued, and honored.
Their stories matter. Their strength is real. And if you’re like me, still proudly holding onto the term brat, let me remind you of what it really means:
Born
Ready
And
Tenacious.
Here’s to our dandelions, blooming brilliantly in every corner of the world.