A Salute to the Military Family
I’ve long held a deep respect and gratitude for our military and their service to our country even before becoming a military spouse. Our service members are willing to lay their lives on the line so that others don’t have to experience how war touches their lives. Since joining the ranks of military spouse several years ago, I’ve also grown to greatly appreciate the sacrifices of the families of our service members as well.
November is Military Family Appreciation Month, as declared in a proclamation signed each year by the president as a way of honoring and celebrating military families and recognizing their sacrifices and dedication to our nation.
Our nation owes each day of security and freedom that we enjoy to the members of our Armed Forces and their families. Behind our brave service men and women, there are family members and loved ones who share in their sacrifice and provide unending support. — President Obama
What makes military families so deserving of recognition and honor?
Here are three reasons:
1. Military families are diverse.
Military families come from all walks of life and represent a diverse group of races, faiths, and cultures. Politically, we’re republican, democrat, independent, or somewhere in between, and come from wealthy, middle-class, and economically challenged families. Our loved ones’ reasons for joining the service are as diverse and varied as the people groups they represent. Overall, one factor seems to ring true throughout them all, both the service member and we, the military family, carry a great love for our country and pride in all it stands for.
2. Military families are resilient and committed.
Military families are resilient and committed because we have to be. We endure long separations from our loved ones due to deployments, training, and unaccompanied tours. We suffer homesickness because we live so far away from our extended families, then leave friends behind every few years when we move to yet another duty station.
Our household goods sustain damage from the frequent moves, though we’ve learned to consider these a badge of honor and laugh it off. And, we hurt for our children as they struggle to adjust to new schools, new friends, and a parent who misses out on their important milestones while they are away serving our nation.
3. Military families love our country, too.
Most people recognize that those serving in our armed forces do it because of a great love of country. Likewise, the majority of military families also take great pride in being part of something bigger than ourselves and in supporting our loved ones as they serve our country. We see it as our way of giving back to those who have gone before us, and perhaps, as a way of ensuring the liberty and freedom we so enjoy will continue on for the next generation.
We proudly stand during the national anthem with our hands over our hearts, a symbol of our dedication to this great nation. We selflessly give our time in volunteer service, often volunteering for several different organizations. We send our loved ones off to fight for this land abroad, knowing we won’t see them again for almost a year; then we wait up until the wee hours of the morning, just for a five-minute phone conversation over crackly telephone lines, rarely knowing when we’ll be able to communicate next.
It’s been said that we’re only as strong as our weakest link, and that is oh-so-true for our military. When the members of our armed forces have good leadership in front of them and a strong, faithful family standing behind them, it equips our fighting men and women to focus on the mission, which strengthens our country.
It’s time we not only recognize the important role military families play in the strength of our nation, but it’s high time we also come alongside and offer them our support and gratitude. When you see a man or woman in uniform with their family, be sure to thank them and their family, letting them know you appreciate their sacrifices.
Have you thanked a military family for their sacrifice? What fills you with pride as a military family?
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