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America's dedicated servicemen and women deserve all our respect and gratitude. They willingly don uniforms
declaring themselves warriors who serve our nation, thereby making themselves targets of our many enemies.
They go around the world to do their duty. They are not only protecting us with what they do now, but are
laying the groundwork for future safety as well. Regardless of where we stand politically, Americans
gratefully support them. But what can we do in addition to flying our flags and wearing yellow ribbons?
Have you stopped to consider the thousands of families left behind who fight daily battles to stay strong,
to take care of life here at home, to fight fears and questions, to keep the home fires burning?
How do these courageous women and men who wait at home fight off the depression, loneliness, fear, and boredom?
How do they manage to preserve a relationship while not knowing when - and sometimes if, they will see their
loved one again? What strength and courage do they exhibit as they juggle everything from paying bills, to
nursing sick children, to holding down jobs, to fixing the leaky toilet? Truly, we as a nation own a debt of
gratitude to them as well.
These are our unseen, unrecognized warriors. They are resourceful, strong, adaptable, and resilient.
They may not wear the uniform, but they fight here to maintain hearth and home so that our soldiers can fight
undistracted by the life they to which they long to return. The battles these hidden warriors face not only
rage while the loved one is away. They continue, at times, even when their soldier returns: He or she may be
battle-weary, experiencing post-traumatic stress, or injured.
These are the stories of America's hidden heroes. It is my hope that in understanding our military families
and their incredible sacrifices, we as a nation, as communities, and as individuals may be better equipped to
support and encourage them.
If you are one of those described here and would like to provide your
insights and stories, I would love to hear from you.
To participate:
If you have Microsoft Word, please download this file,
answer the questions and email it back to me.
For a plain text version, please download this text file.
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