Meet Essay Contest Finalist: Lisa Boughton, Proud Army Spouse
He risks his life for people he doesn’t even know, imagine what he’ll do for me. This is one of the many reasons I am proud to be an Army wife.
Being a military spouse is not an easy task and definitely not for the faint at heart. Thirty-four years ago, my husband (Kevin) and I married after dating for four years in high school.
Yes, high school.
High school sweethearts and still going strong after 34 years of marriage. Kevin is my soul mate, my confidant, and my best friend. To others he is a father, a son, a mentor, and a soldier.
We (yes, I said we) will retire in February 2023 after 34 years 5 months and 18 days in the military, but who’s counting? We have done every day of it together.
I am proud of the life we built for our family.
Our boys who are 30 and 25 were born into the military “brat hood”. Being a military brat helped shape them into the men they are today. Both volunteered with Family Readiness Groups, were Boy Scouts and always found a way to give back to their community.
Both of them serve in the public health field, one in the Army as a PA and the other with a medical device company in Minnesota. When I first became a mom, I worried about all the moving around. How would it affect them? Would they make new friends?
Looking back, they were resilient, they handled each move as an adventure and made adapting to their new home, neighborhood and school look easy.
My pride extends to them as well; they are part of it all.
In the 34 years of being an Army spouse, I have been dedicated to mentoring and advocating for military families by being part of organizations that help support military families.
I have experienced them being scared, their joy, their fear and unfortunately their loss. I have mentored the youngest of spouses on how to navigate the military system, held their hands and breathed words of encouragement that help alleviate the fears of when their soldier deployed off to war for the first time.
The worst part is the loss.
Losing soldiers is the hardest and most painful part of military life. Comforting a spouse when they have lost the one they love fills your heart with sorrow. You yourself are grieving, but through your grief of losing a friend is the duty to take care of the spouse and children. It has been an honor to do so.
I think saying “I am proud” is an understatement.
I have dedicated my life to my soldier just as he has dedicated his to life to protect the people of the United States. I would not change a day of our life.
I am Proud to have served America’s finest; our soldiers and their families.
Lisa, is a native of beautiful Freeport, Florida where she met and married her high school sweetheart Kevin 34 years ago. She experienced Army life in Germany, Hawaii, Oklahoma, New York, North Carolina, Arizona, and Virginia.
She is a Deputy Program Manager for a Veterans Administration contract conducting research for Veteran’s PTSD and exposure claims. She enjoys volunteering in the community, where she served as a leader in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts of America and a Family Support Group leader for many years.
She was awarded the Department of the Army Public Service Commendation Medal for her extraordinary support to the Soldiers and Families of 3d Special Forces Group (Airborne) during the first deployments of Operation Enduring Freedom.
She was also recognized by the Military Intelligence Corps Association with the Golden Rose Award for her exceptional service to the Soldiers, Civilians, and Families across the MI Corps.
Her husband is retiring in February 2023 after 34 years 5 months and 18 days in the Army. They plan to continue volunteering in retirement by supporting Military Suicide Awareness.
Lisa and Kevin are blessed with two Army brat sons and one Army brat Grandson as well as two loving and energetic Siberian Huskies, Riker and Troi (named after her favorite Star Trek characters, Commander Will Riker and Counselor Deanna Troi). She enjoys spending time exploring antique stores looking for Polish Pottery and spending time with her many Army friends from around the world.
*To read more entries from the Finalists, visit our Homepage.
