By Sonya D. Lavett
In honor of Military Families Appreciation Month, it is the pleasure of Columbia Southern University to give a special shout-out to all of our service members and their families. It is so true that the individual who volunteers to join any branch of the military does so with the understanding that his or her family must also sacrifice. Not only is the sacrifice made through missed time together, displacement and financial stressors, but sacrifices in the form of emotional tolls.
Worry over a loved one’s safety and sometimes inevitable heartache is common for military families.
For the family members that are left behind, this means that there may be only one parent to play the role of both. For those that have multiple family members serving, the worry is multiplied. Through all of these obstacles, individuals persevere and still manage to accomplish huge goals, such as earning a degree, purchasing a home, or bringing home a new family member to love and provide for.
We live in a time where individuals are not drafted or required to join any branch of the military. Despite so much violence and war in all parts of our world, there are still brave women and men who answer this call every single day. They do so because they love their country. They do so knowing that while they are fighting dangerous enemies on both foreign and domestic soil, their loved ones are missing them and praying fervently that they will make it home alive.
When people talk about heroes, we know they are all around us. They live in our neighborhoods, work in our offices, and attend community events with us. Many of them are our very own family members and friends. We may sometimes forget to thank them for the sacrifices they have made and continue to make each day, so please let this serve as a reminder. Let us not forget to thank the entire family of each service member, for they too endure their own hardships, sometimes silently and mostly without hesitation. They are our heroes as well.
“For those who have fought for it, freedom has a flavor the protected will never know.” ~ Unknown
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