Honoring Those Who Serve And Their Families

Do you know a military family?

I really struggled with this post. I wanted to write something meaningful over Memorial Day weekend but I could not find the right words. I wanted to write something that would honor the courage and sacrifice of those who serve and their families. It’s difficult.

Last year my brother came home from a year in Iraq. He went to Iraq with a fiancée but came home single. He loves being a Marine, and so after being discharged he became a Reservist. The January before my brother-in-law came home from Iraq. He was injured twice before getting to come home. He is now an Army Reservist. My husband served in the U.S. Navy during the Gulf War.

My father-in-law was career Navy and missed the birth of both his children while he was deployed. My father and uncles all served during Vietnam and volunteered to go overseas after a cousin was paralyzed by sniper fire.

My father’s father served in the U.S. Navy and was in Normandy for D-Day. My mother’s father served in the U.S. Marines in the Pacific during World War II.

Why am I telling you all of this? Because I think we’re a pretty average American family. And we have a history of service. So I think many other families in the Lehigh Valley must have a similar history.

And so many of us do understand the courage and sacrifice of those who serve, have served and will serve. Many of us do understand how difficult it is for the loved ones left behind. The question becomes, how can we show our appreciation to those who serve and their families?

I’m just going to start with this idea: There are families in the Lehigh Valley with loved ones overseas. And I’m sure that they could use our support and help. Maybe there is already a group in the Valley to support these families; I don’t know what it is. But I do know that if we could collectively wrap our arms around these families it would make life easier on them and their loved ones overseas.  

I can only speak from my experience and from the experiences of my friends. I know that taking care of the house was difficult for me while my husband was away. Cleaning gutters, painting trim, mowing the lawn are all things my husband does while he’s home. When he was deployed, I either had to hire someone or ask one of my friend’s husbands to help.

Last year a good friend of mine had a relapse with a chronic disease while her husband was away. They did not have family here, and she had two children.  She needed help with doctor’s appointments, child care and meals. A group of mommies took care of her.

Imagine what we could do collectively to help and support these families? I would love to get it started. I would love to hear some ideas or experiences with this kind of thing.  If nothing else please visit http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/ and look at all of the ways you can help support vets and their families.