Holy Spirit Regional Catholic School was recently awarded Alabama’s Purple Star School designation, which recognizes the efforts of the K-12 schools in the state that are committed to and supportive of military students. This program, established by the Alabama Legislature with the passage of Act 2021-7, was designed to help mitigate the challenges of high mobility by setting standards for and publicly designating military-friendly schools. The Purple Star Award recognizes schools that show a major commitment to students and families connected to our nation’s military. Holy Spirit School is one of the only non-public schools in Alabama to receive this designation.

Because April is celebrated as the Month of the Military Child, Holy Spirit School announced its designation as a Purple Star School at its school-wide Mass on Friday, April 26. All active-duty military students were recognized. The military students and their parents were invited to attend a special cake reception after Mass.

Holy Spirit School, which is located in Huntsville near Redstone Arsenal, home to the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command and the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, has nearly 75 enrolled military-connected students. As sons and daughters of American servicemembers, these students' unique lifestyle requires a kind of sacrifice that most Americans may never fully understand, and Holy Spirit School is grateful to count so many of America’s heroes as part of its family.