Military Connection: Military Family Month: By Debbie Gregory

November 11^th is Veterans Day, a day set aside to honor and recognize the sacrifices made by the men and women who have served in our military. While the citizens of this country could never do enough to show their gratitude to Veterans, over the last several years, government projects, corporate events and individual personal initiatives have made honoring military Veterans a 365 day a year occasion. But often, the sacrifices made by the families that support our men and women in uniform get overlooked. That is why, since 1993, November has been declared Military Family Month.

In a statement issued on October 31^st, President Obama proclaimed November 2014 as Military Family Month to acknowledge the tremendous contributions military families make in support of our service members and our nation. The proclamation said:

“During Military Family Month, we recognize every spouse, parent, sibling, child, and loved one who stands with our service members, and we reaffirm our solemn vow to serve these families as well as they serve us.”

Military families contribute more to the war effort that they will ever know. Their letters, emails, care packages and love help service members through the hardest times. Often, even the memory of time spent with loved ones can boost a service member’s morale. But what most Americans don’t always see are the sacrifices made by the military family members who don’t wear a uniform.

While all of today’s service members have volunteered to serve, their families, especially their children, did not. And they sacrifice a great deal too. Spouses single-handedly manage their households while their loved ones are deployed. Children of service members often go months without their military parent being able to attend school functions, sporting events, holidays and birthdays, not to mention just being physically present in their lives. Often times, parents and other family members help their service member pay bills, raise children, care for their pets, and maintain vehicles and property while their hero is deployed.

Being a military family member is a tough job, one that is often thankless and full of hardships. Please do all that you can to honor, recognize and thank military families in your community.

Military Connection proudly serves those who serve in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve, Veterans and their Families. We are the go to site for Veteran Employment and information on Veteran education. Militaryconnection.com provides Veterans with and Directory of Employers, a Job Board, information on the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and a blog that offers Veterans boundless information. Be sure to visit Militaryconnection.com, the go to site.

Military Connection: Military Family Month: By Debbie Gregory