Military Spouse Appreciation Day

Today's military is built on a legacy of great men and women who have shaped it into the greatest military in the world; however, this would not have been possible without the unending dedication and support of a very special group of people which the military will pay tribute to tomorrow. That special group of people is military spouses.

President Ronald Reagan recognized the profound importance of the military spouse's commitment to the well-being and readiness of service members, and on May 23, 1984, he signed a proclamation that set aside the Friday before Mother's Day each year as Military Spouse Appreciation Day.

I have been a military spouse for 7 yrs, and while I find myself more often frustrated with this role than happy with it, I am proud of the small part I play. I am proud to stand by my husband who so bravely defends our country's security and freedom and I know that he finds comfort and strength in my unwavering support.

Military life is full of many challenges and I know that myself along with other military spouses try to handle them with grace and strength. We share unique experiences that only other military spouses can comprehend, and while we may not receive orders, go into battle, or give salutes, we make sacrifices as well.

We make countless household moves--willingly packing and relocating--from a place we know to one that's strange and different - sometimes by ourselves and often being separated from our own siblings and parents for months and even years at a time.

We are sometimes placed in an unfamiliar ethnic or cultural setting or even a remote location. We meet this challenge with confidence, pride, and most importantly, a positive perspective and a sense of adventure.

All too often we end up playing the part of a single parent even though we're married. So many times it's mission first and family second and as much as we hate it, we realize that we are the only constant for our children while mom or dad is deployed, and we remain steadfast in our conviction that we are doing the right thing.

Sometimes we even feel like the mistress cause the military is his spouse and all too often demands all his attention.

We hold families together and celebrate many anniversaries, birthdays, and holidays alone.

It doesn't matter what branch you're in or what rank he wears upon his sleeve because worrying about your man while he is deployed feels exactly the same.

We despise deployments and hate almost everything about them....the tension in the days leading up to their departure....the dread and anxiety when that day finally arrives...the tears of sadness when we have to say good-bye....and the sense of fear wondering if they will make it home safe.

Our hearts break when they leave and are not whole again until they return. We know that the final kiss and embrace have to hold us over for months.

We cry ourselves to sleep at night in empty beds.

We stand in line at the post office sending care packages and spend an hour writing a single letter in hopes that it will bring our service member comfort and lift his spirits while he is gone.

Our cell phones become our life lines.

We fall apart and put ourselves back together again.

A paycheck isn't enough, a body pillow in your bed is no consolation, and a web cam can never compare.

We pay the bills, fix the car, take care of the house, and play the part of both mom and dad. We don't tell him every single problem. We tell him everything is alright even when it isn't. And we hold back the tears when he asks how we're really doing. We do all of this because our spouse needs to know that we're alright and have peace of mind that everything is fine at home so he can focus on the task at hand and come home safe to us.

We pray for a world in harmony because we know that the flag that leads our men and women into battle....the one that they so bravely defend...will also blanket them in death.

And that is our worst fear....that our spouses won't come home to us.

But when he does, it is worth the wait....the stress...the worry...the tears. Just as we are passionate about our hatred for deployments, we are equally passionate about our joy for homecomings....the excitement of preparing for his arrival home...the undescribeable elation when that day finally arrives...the pride in knowing a job well done or a mission accomplished....the tears of joy when we are finally in their arms again....and the sense of relief knowing that they are home safe.

We are strong...we are angry...we are steadfast...we are sad....we are proud.

We hold our heads up high, hang flags in our front yard, and stick magnets on our car.

Look beside each soldier...each airman...each sailor...each marine....and you will find the people who fight with them...the spouses. We serve too. Their victories are our victories. Their defeats are our defeats. We are proud to stand by our service members....our spouses....whose integrity, patriotism, and pride shine like no other.

I know that most people reading this didn't even know there was such thing as Military Spouse Appreciation Day, so tomorrow please take a moment and appreciate a military spouse you might know....tell a spouse that you appreciate the extremely challenging task that he or she faces with military life....or thank them for the sacrifices that they too are making in the name of freedom or for the special part they play in keeping our military strong.

The husbands and wives of all our men and women in uniform worldwide deserve our thanks. All military spouses share in their service member's hardship and sacrifice, and we should salute their strength, patriotism, and support. They make the mission possible.