Brother against brother. Neighbor against neighbor. It’s hard to imagine life during the eight-year Revolutionary War, which gave birth to the liberty we enjoy today. And although present day Americans have grown accustomed to watching tragedies unfold, we often forget to extend empathy and understanding to our modern day heroes. Military families are especially in need of our support this Memorial Day, and here are a few ways we can express our gratitude.
“Most military communities are packed with a soldier’s immediate family: wife, husband and kids. You can find them outside of our military bases in towns like Clarksville, Fayetteville and Killeen to name a few,” Captain Dan Sukman explained in his diary for the FOX News Web site. But many military families, particularly those whose family members serve in the National Guard and Reserves, blend into their hometowns.
“Family members are a little more difficult to recognize. They don’t wear a uniform, no high and tights on the tops of their heads, but you can find them in almost any community. They attend and teach in our schools and coach and participate in local athletic teams. Often they do so without one of their parents attending a game, or meeting their teacher at the local school,” Sukman wrote, noting that a simple ‘thank you’ goes a long way in recognizing their sacrifices.
Often the worst words a military family member can hear are these: “I understand what you are going through,” particularly from someone without shared experience. So what can you say to wartime military families who live in daily uncertainty or who have lost a loved one?
“I would thank them for being strong for their loved one and allowing them to go defend our country,” suggested military wife Bonnie Reid. Her husband survived being shot down in enemy territory in Vietnam.
In addition to saying “thanks,” another way to express comfort and encouragement is through prayer. “I would let them know that there are many of us praying for them and their loved ones and how grateful we are that they are willing to go and defend our freedoms and help others gain theirs. Acknowledge the sacrifice they have made and assure them that there are many who are praying for them. Stay in touch with them if you are able and find ways to help. Help with the kids, chores, meals, dealing with settlement matters, etc.,” Bonnie continued.
Thanksgiving, prayer, and practical help are wise ways to nourish the hearts of those who serve.
Let’s all remember the sacrifices that our military and their families have made for us. Let us honor them with our words and deeds this Memorial Day. Let us remember the inscription on the memorial in Philadelphia to the unknown soldiers of the Revolutionary War: “Freedom is a light for which many men have died in darkness.”
Let us thank our veterans, their families, and our military for living loudly for liberty today.
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Jane Hampton Cook is the author of Stories of Faith and Courage from the Revolutionary War, a 365-day digest with personal writings from about 20 key players in the Revolutionary War. This piece is excerpted from her book. Ms. Cook resides in Vienna, Va.
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