In this photo, William Meyer is just three years old standing proudly in the shadow of two Navy uniforms. Today, at 18, that same pride runs even deeper.

“To be a child of military parents gives me a great sense of pride,” William says. “I had the privilege of growing up watching the honor and dedication my parents showed through their service to our nation.”

Both his mother and father served in the U.S. Navy, with his father retiring as a Chief Petty Officer (E7). Their stories—told around dinner tables and during long car rides—became the foundation for his admiration and commitment to the military community.

Now, William is charting his own path of service through the American Red Cross. As a volunteer with the Service to the Armed Forces program, he shares valuable information with active-duty members and their families, especially on Navy bases where he feels most at home.

“I love giving back,” he says. “It’s meaningful to start building my own stories in the military world.”

His next chapter? Becoming a commissioned officer in the United States Navy—continuing the legacy that began in those early years, standing beside his parents in uniform.

This April, during Month of the Military Child, we celebrate William and the thousands of military children like him—growing up with courage, resilience, and a spirit of service that runs deep.

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