A Salute to Military Families

April is Military Family Month.  Today, there are 1.9 million American military children.  Having been an ARMY wife for several years, my heart leaps every time I hear about today’s military families.  The job of service members is tough.  They can be called on to leave at a moment’s notice.  In today’s atmosphere, multiple deployments to dangerous assignments have become the norm. 

During deployments, military spouses and children often suffer as much (or more) as the service member.  When my husband was in the ARMY, I can remember hearing, “If the ARMY wanted the service men to have a family, families would have been issued.”  This was always difficult to hear.  Every member of the military family is a hero in my book.

A deployment can make holiday celebrations less celebrated.  Everyday struggles can be magnified.  I write this to tell local military families, you are not alone.

Several months ago, a group of caring citizens started the Jefferson County Military Families Support Network.  Their goal is to serve as resources to help families with a deployed service member.  On their website, families can find several helpful resources to ease the burden of deployment. 

Today, there are lots of ways military kids can get support.  For example, check out this great website just for kids.  In addition, free online tutoring is available here.  During this month, the Armed Services YMCA is holding Essay and Art contests for the children of service members.  You can learn more about this here.  Jefferson County is also having essay and art contests - find out more by reaching out to Wendy Thomas at thomaswg@missouri.edu.  Also, there are grants for extra-curricular activities for the children of service members available and several free week-long summer camps created just for military kids - check these out. 

There are also great opportunities available for military spouses, such as scholarships (I was able to use a similar scholarship to go to college), job search help, tax assistance, or help buying a home.

If someone in your family is deployed, these resources are for you. 

If you know of a military family, please pass this information along.  When you do, please thank them for the sacrifices they have given to our country, and let them know that the folks here in Jefferson County appreciate all they do to protect our freedom.  Most of all, let them know they are not alone, and that thousands of folks here in Jefferson County care very deeply about them.

And, if there is ever anything I can do as your County Council representative, please do not hesitate to contact me.