Your Sacrifices Mean Something

This week has undoubtedly been difficult as we’ve watched the events unfolding in Afghanistan. 

This is a defining moment for us. For the past two decades, as service members, military spouses, and military children, we’ve watched the events unfold overseas in combat zones, always wondering how it would end. 

Would it end in celebration? Would it end with peace? Would we change things? Would there be parades in the streets?

Many of us did not envision what now fills television screens, the front pages of newspapers, or our phone screens on social media posts and news sites. We worried about it, but we hoped it would look like more. Our hearts are heavy for Afghanistan. Our military members worked side-by-side trusting Afghan partners, and we hoped for a bright future.

The current images we see are heart wrenching, ones that twist our guts and pull the breath from our lungs. 

We may look at our permanently disabled service member or the encased flag proudly displayed on the shelf and wonder…

We may look at the battle against PTSD or TBIs and wonder….

We may think back to the months of separation from our loved one and wonder.. 

We may look back on the difficult seasons of our marriage and wonder…

We may consider the years spent as a caregiver, putting the emphasis on another’s care rather than our own and wonder…

We may, with a weary heart, look at our service member as his or her phone is inundated with texts from the unit, deployment whispered deep inside our heart and wonder…

We wonder: What’s next? Did these sacrifices mean anything?

But here’s the thing: It has been so much more than the news we’re seeing today, and the sacrifices of service members and their families means something to us. 

In times of struggle, our community shows its strength. We stand together because we’ve experienced things to which very few Americans can relate. 

We’ve clasped hands with our fellow spouses when we said goodbye, anxiously awaited news of our loved one, or counted down the days to R&R or redeployment. We’ve mourned. We’ve grieved. We’ve lended support as often as we can. 

We lost sleep worrying about those overseas before getting ourselves out of bed to put our remaining energy into our children, our installation, our soldier and family readiness/support groups. 

We are a community that connects deeply, creating bonds that outlast our presence. 

And because of that bond, that connection, that understanding of duty and honor and a calling, we know that this was worth something.

As we continue to send service members to assist in the region, to help where they can, know that through it all, we are here for you. Not just now, but always. Not just with content, but connection. Not just with resources, but responses. Not just with engagement, but with encouragement. 

It doesn’t matter where you come from, how you vote, who you love, what you look like, or what you believe—if at any time you find yourself struggling, you find yourself with endless questions, you have things to say but don’t know who will listen, send us an email to info@armywifenetwork.com, send us a message through your preferred social media, or post on one of our pages. We are here for you, not just through the hard times, but always. 

If you’re a service member who is struggling or you know someone struggling, please reach out to the Veterans Crisis Hotline for support. You can text 838225 to begin the conversation in your own way and talk about how you’re feeling. Call 1-800-273-8255 ext 1 to speak to someone by phone. You can also chat via the internet by logging on the Veterans Crisis Line. For deaf or hard of hearing, call TTY at 1-800-799-4889. If you’re calling in order to help someone else, you can also choose any of the above communication methods to find the best way to get them help.  

You can also reach out to Military OneSource, the Women Veterans Hotline (855-829-6636), or the Vet Center Call Center (877-927-8387).

Remember that you are never alone in this, not with your feelings or your experiences. Lean on your community. We will always have your 6.

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