Open Letter ~ The Families Also Serve...

Our most basic instinct is not for survival but for family. Most of us would give our own life for the survival of a family member, yet we lead our daily life too often as if we take our family for granted. ~~~~~Paul Pearshall



Everyone knows how 'Our Guys' willingly answer the call to service. But there are those who stand in the shadows of those men and women in uniform that deserve recognition as well.
My dear friend, Brat, who pens the military support blog; Assoluta Tranquillita has a post up from one of those shadowy figures... a military wife.

The families also serve: A military spouse open letter

[...]To the American Public From a Military Spouse An Open Letter (to anyone who can help) Written by: A Military Spouse December 14, 2009

This is a open letter to the Commander in Chief, First Lady Michelle Obama, the leaders of our Armed Forces, and the American Public. If it moves you, contact your elected officials.

News stations count the casualties of the War on Terrorism; by using body counts. Those numbers represent the service members who have not come home breathing to their family members. What about those that came home breathing, but dead inside? Those who suffer daily from some form, or extreme of Depression, PTSD, TBI, or any other of a half dozen syndromes? What about the families left behind whose soldiers are not getting the medical and mental health treatment the government has promised?

Our leaders stand in front of the American public and talk about how much the war is costing, and how much help is available to our returning soldiers and their families. We throw billions upon billions of dollars to artificially hold up the banking system and the value of our dollar. Yet, we sit by and do nothing while our American families fall apart.

I am the spouse of an Active Duty Soldier; I have spent over half of my marriage away from my soldier. I watched as the United States began to bomb Iraq and my soldier walked onto a plane for parts unknown. I have dropped everything when my phone rang, and my life stood still for the 15 minutes allotted to call home after standing in line for five to six hours, during the initial invasion back in March of 2003.

I have stood by and watched as my Soldier went overseas on his second tour only a few weeks after having gone through hernia surgery and knee surgery in quick succession. He deployed before finishing his physical therapy, and the Army promised to let him finish in a war zone. In case your wondering; he was never given the chance to finish his physical therapy. [...]

There is so much more to this letter that everyone needs to read. Please click on that title link, finish reading, then do whatever your heart dictates. If there is one who isn't afraid to speak up, there are probably hundreds or thousands just like her who are. Can we lend our voices so that they will be heard? I certainly hope so. 'Our Guys' families are out there on the front lines as much as the ones who wear the uniform.



And so it goes......