Military spouses

Oftentimes, I will watch the news or head onto news websites and inevitably after watching/reading for any length of time there will be a story that will particularly rankle my sensibilities. People, meaning bloggers/politicians/reporters will often use our military as "talking points" or even "props", painting them with a broad brush. Sometimes they can be characterized as dangerous, violent, stupid, criminal, crazy other times as disadvantaged, minority, uneducated, unskilled, the poor kid who joined just for college money, the guy who joined just because he wanted to provide for his family ect. Still others might remember that they are patriots, self sacrificing, called to a higher cause than themselves, Americans who volunteered to serve their country. To me, my husband is my personal hero, I find him amazing and incredible, I love him beyond measure. He is none of the negative stereotypes listed above and he is not a talking point or prop. If the worst case scenario ever happened to our family, I feel it is no one's business to put his name on a placard or sign or use his image as a means of furthering their political agenda or ideology. Further I believe that while in a theater of war military members become public figures whose picture smoking a cigarette, or comforting a child or sleeping in a tent might be pictured on the front page of any webpage or newspaper around the world, I believe that in death they should be allowed to have peace, dignity and privacy, it should not be a place for protesting, but apparently the Supreme Court disagrees with me on that issue.

One day in the near future, my husband will retire, our lives will go on. He will become a shoe salesman or a truck driver, or a manager or whatever it is he chooses to become. I will find other things to focus on, no I don't think I'll ever truly be silenced in speaking about how I feel regarding military issues. I am sure I will continue to make my random appearances on news sites to voice my opinions on the goings on in the world and my perspective on the military. I will likely continue coming to their defense even if my attempt is just some feeble ramblings on a computer page. What I ask is this, when the day comes that I have to add the word "former" to my title of military spouse, that the young women coming up through the ranks of the military wifedom now, the ones who are currently earning their deployment stripes, their invaluable "Valor on the homefront" medals, that these woman whose job is so very important to the men they are supporting will take up the torch. Speak out ladies, let your voices be heard, support our men in uniform, help people understand their misconceptions. I am excited at the prospect of never again having to worry about whether he'll come home and inform me of another field op, school, strange duty station, or deployment. I look forward to the day when I do not have to comfort and explain to children why daddy has to go or can't come back for a birthday, performance, graduation, first day of school, Christmas ect. It thrills me to accept the mundane, the day to day, having most dinners together with our children and having the support of a loving spouse with me more often than not. That sounds like absolute bliss!!! But it is also important to me to encourage the young military spouses of today.

I would like to tell all of you women who are halfway through a career or even just 5 years into a career that I promise it will go by faster than you can imagine. Grab every moment, make the most of each experience, embrace the strange duty station. Be patient and understanding, rest in the knowledge that your husband knows and appreciates your sacrifice even when it might seem like no one else notices or cares. Go to every military ball you are able to attend, make use of base services. Ask questions and try to understand your husband's job, it will make it easier for you to understand when he needs to vent to you.