Military Spouse Appreciation Day: May 11 2007
by Arlene H. Hull LIFELines
"If the military had wanted you to have a spouse, they would have issued you one." Remember those words? Well, that was then and this is now. America's military has realized and acknowledged the significance of the military spouse.
In 1984 President Reagan proclaimed the Friday before Mother's Day of each year to be Military Spouse Appreciation Day. It is your day to stand up and be honored.
For the times you've stood and watched a ship sail from the harbor, an aircraft disappear into the clouds, or a truck convoy pull out of sight, not sure when they would return, we thank you. For the countless household moves you've made from a place you know to one that's strange and different -- often by yourself -- we thank you.
For the families you've held together, for the anniversaries, birthdays, and holidays you've celebrated alone, we thank you. For the hand you've extended to another military spouse when the need was there, truly creating a military family, we thank you.
For the spirit and strength you've shown when your service member has gone into harm's way, we thank you. For the pride you've displayed while serving as an ambassador of the military spouse to the rest of the world, we thank you.
Far too frequently, the sacrifices and dedication of the military spouse have gone unnoticed and unappreciated. In our nation's recent history, thousands of service members have been placed in harm's way as they stood watch as freedom's guardian.
You too have stood watch at home, facing challenges alone. You have waved flags and held banners high to express your support. You have kept the candles burning on the home front as a reminder of our deployed military. You have made difficult sacrifices of your own, and have called upon your inner reserves to nurture family life so your service member can focus on the business at hand.
Even in times of relaxed alert status for our military, you have stood ready and alert for the slightest of signs, perhaps overlooked or ignored by your civilian counterparts, signaling a potential change in the status of our military forces. As a military spouse, you have willingly packed up and relocated countless times, and may have been separated from your own parents and siblings for several years at a time.
Quite often, you have been placed in an unfamiliar ethnic or cultural setting, or a remote location. You have met this challenge with confidence and pride, making your nation proud of you. By the same token, you have extended your hand and hospitality to visitors to our country.
A country cannot count itself strong by its armed services alone, but must also depend on its civilians. With military wives and husbands setting a superior example through devotion, courage, and commitment, we are a nation of strength. Military spouses ... stand tall, stand proud ... we salute you, you are truly our unsung heroes.
And then THIS was in my inbox this am
....When someone asks when your husband will be home, you say July or August instead of 5 or 6pm
....You live on your own and by yourself more after you're married than before you were married
. ...Most of the married women you know or meet are under 21 and if they are over they have kids, sometimes even under 21
. ...You know all of your husband's coworkers by their last name, and rarely know their first name.
...When you say "I'm going to the commissary" instead of "grocery store".
...When you need I.D to buy groceries
...You are called "Ma'am" at the age of 18 by every MP or SF that comes into contact with you.
...When you forget you have a driver's license and take your military ID everywhere with you.
...When you hear of another death or injury of a US Military and weep inside for that wife or mother that loved that Marine, Soldier, Airmen, or Seamen.
...You read everything you can get your hands on to learn more about your husband's job.
...When you've never given a haircut in your life but you've perfected the medium fade, 6-8, skin.
...You ask someone "what's your MOS?" instead of "what's your job?!"
...When half of your wardrobe has some kind of Military insignia on it and once belonged to your husband.
...When the sounds of helicopters, and Jets flying over your house shaking your windows, surprisingly soothes you!
...When you classify people by what phase, class, or rollback they are. ...your husband's work and dress clothes cost more than yours do.
...You only write in pencil because EVERYTHING is subject to change. ...You know that a 2 month separation IS short, no matter what your civilian friends say.
...You know better than to go to the NEX or commissary between 11:30 and 1:30 unless it's a life or death emergency. .
..You show your military ID to the greeter at Wal-Mart. ...You know that any reference to "sand box" describes a deployment to Iraq/Kuwait, not your kid's backyard toys.
...You have enough camouflage in your house to wallpaper the White House.
...You don't have to think about what time 21:30 is. .
..You can't remember the last time you saw a doctor who wasn't wearing BDUs.
...You pick apart uniforms on TV and in the movies for being inaccurate with your husband. .
..You are asked to stop talking in acronyms and translate it all to English
...You have multiple copies of P.O.A.'s for whenever!
