Deployment During the Holidays: Part 2
Editor’s note: This is the second installment of Deployment During the Holidays. Catch Part 1 here.
There are lots of ways to make the holidays special for the military family at home despite a deployment. The list could go on and on, but one way—one of the most important—is supporting your service member during these special times of year.
For us, the spouses, we have the option of being with friends and family, usually in a semi-familiar place for the holidays. We can choose what we want to do, what we want to cook and eat, what we want to buy, where we want to go. Unfortunately, our service members don’t get that luxury.
Our service members, while deployed, may or may not get a hot meal, they may or may not get a day off of work to relax or do something they enjoy, they may or may not get to call home. That can be really discouraging when they think about the celebrations and events they might be missing.
Here are six ways we can support our service members during the holidays:
1. Pack your care packages well.
Use lots of padding and packing materials, heavy-duty tape, and baggies. When you pack a box, make sure you pack any foods in baggies and air tight containers. A big issue I’ve heard from service members is that they receive packages with both homemade and prepackaged foods that are stale, leaking, or filled with ants by the time they arrive.
Bag items individually if possible, then put them in an airtight container for the best chance of any goodies reaching your service member in good condition.
Sending boxes halfway around the world means a lot of moving and knocking around of packages. Be sure to use lots of packing materials to give breakable items cushion so they don’t break, and double or triple tape your boxes with good quality packing tape. Reinforcing the edges of the box with duct tape might even be a good idea to prevent it from breaking during travel.
2. Record special moments or traditions.
It doesn’t matter if you take pictures or video, record all the big moments. Put photos into a “wish you were here” scrapbook or photo album to send to your service member. Include funny photos like the flour fight during cookie baking or the cat/dog/baby knocking the tree over, silly family photos, and anything to make your service member smile.
3. For every day leading up to the holiday, wrap a small gift for your service member to open.
Include things that go along with what you’re doing at home. If you’re going shopping, send a gift card. If you’re going to a religious service, maybe include a CD of the recorded service or music. If you’re baking, send some treats. If you’re having or attending a party, send some fun decorations or party games and favors. This can go all the way through New Year’s!
3. Send some of your service member’s favorite childhood toys or games.
Not all service members are stationed somewhere they can get a special holiday meal, so something we’ve done is send a crock pot (2 quart or larger—whatever works best for your service member’s situation) and include Ziploc bags or mason jars filled with all the dry ingredients needed for meals (beans, rice, freeze dried or dehydrated vegetables, seasoning, bouillon cubes or packets for flavor).
You can do homemade or store-bought canned items such as chicken, beef, ham, salmon, tuna, baby shrimp, soups, canned chili, cake mix, canned pie filling, and more. Whatever you can think of that your service member might like that can be made in a crock pot so they can have a special homemade meal. And send enough to share! Don’t forget some wooden spoons to use for cooking and serving.
4. If reasonable, wait to have celebrations when your service member comes home.
Plan special meals, gifts, parties—whatever your usual celebrations involve—and have them with your service member once they get home and reacclimated.
5. Send cards, pictures, and handwritten notes.
These are keepsakes they will often treasure. Handmade cards with drawings from your children are a special touch.
6. Get creative.
You know what your service member wants and needs and what encourages him or her the most. Do whatever you’re able, have fun with it, and just remember that this deployment is only temporary. Your service member will be home again soon.
