AUGUSTA, Maine — Those who want to show their support for local military families are invited to wear purple Friday on “Purple Up! For Military Kids” day, the Army National Guard and University of Maine Cooperative Extension announced.

“Purple is the color that symbolizes all branches of the military, as it is the combination of Army green, Coast Guard blue, Air Force blue, Maine red and Navy blue,” Chief Master Sgt. Steven R. Hughes, an ROTC instructor, said in promotional material about the event.

Maine’s Operation: Military Kids, part of the Cooperative Extension’s 4-H youth development program, has several programs for school-age kids who have a parent deployed in the military.

“Please wear purple on [Friday] to support and recognize the sacrifice our military personnel, families and youth are making in support of our country,” said a press release announcing the event.

For more information, contact Karen Gagne or Tiffany Gillespie at 800-287-1481.

The National Guard is selling “Purple Up!” T-shirts in support of Friday’s event for $10. To get a shirt call Hughes at 430-5773 or email steven.hughes2@us.army.mil or Kayla Cummings at 430-5953 or kayla.m.cummings@us.army.mil.