Supporting Military Families

My new job has me connected with the most amazing momentum I have ever experienced when it comes to instigating positive change.

On Monday, January 24, the President, First Lady and Mrs. Biden announced a Presidential Initiative called "Strengthening Our Military Families: Meeting America's Commitment". This initiative will leverage the resources of the federal government to meet military family needs across the board. If you want to watch the announcement, go here.

Then yesterday, Thursday, January 27, the First Lady appeared on Oprah, evolving this initiative from a government effort to a community effort, asking every American to figure out what they can do to support the 1% of Americans who are shouldering the burden of protecting our country.

This is not about whether you agree with the wars or not. This is about whether you support the families that sacrifice alongside their soldiers, whether they are active duty, guard or reserve, Veterans or fallen.

Several phrases have stuck out for me this week as I have listened and watched these stories unfold. First, is the wonderfully alliterative "service, strength, and sacrifice" that our military personnel and their families live every day. Second, President Obama said that when he visited the troops in Afghanistan last month and asked them what he could do to help them, they said "Take care of our families." And third, the First Lady said on Oprah, "I suck it up" when she is having a bad day or feeling sorry for herself and remembers that military families are enduring so much without complaint.

Do you know the military families in your community? Do you know someone who is currently serving or deployed? Do you know how to help?

There is a wave of service-oriented action sweeping our nation and assisting our military families is one way of participating. Be the instigator in your community. Find out what your community is doing to support them and get involved. Let me know if I can do anything to help.