Military families have been living unique lifestyles along side their service member for years. This has been an ongoing sacrifice in support of their service member’s career, and sometimes can be a hard transition for some families. Besides the support we receive from within our own community, there is still so much support needed from civilians.

The first time I heard Ronny’s voice on the phone I began to picture a man in his fifties or sixties. I had imagined him hunched in a chair settling into old age, tired but still kicking. We began our conversation talking a little bit about Peggy from Operation First Response and all the things she had done for him and his family. Then he began to describe his war injuries.

First Lieutenant Andrea Wolfe is collecting data from former and current military members of all branches who have deployed to Iraq and/or Afghanistan. Wolfe chose to focus her research on an area that is central to the military: deployments.

Chrisy Krueger is an Army wife, mother and a published author. She currently resides in Florida with her husband and two boys. Her book “Vino in Vo” is a beautiful story on the struggles of military life, and great friendships. I had the opportunity to chat with Chrisy about military life, writing and how she handles the pressures of being an Army wife.

Angela Caban compiles your emails and answers your most pressing military related questions. She is a dedicated writer and advocate for the military life, as she shares her many military life experiences and advice with her readers weekly.

What many of us who have been to war learn to understand is that, even when we have traumatic experiences dealing with life and death, once the war is over for us and we return home those feelings do not go away. All too often, like with myself, we become closed off emotionally to our loved ones and friends. We even go to such lengths as to learn to press down or bury our reactions and emotions our others. For me in particular, this meant I pressed down the parts of my character that hurt if I showed emotions.

The Mental Health Self-Assessment Program (MHSAP) is a mental health and alcohol screening and referral program. It was designed for military families and service members affected by deployment and recruitment.

Summer has arrived and many of us will gather with family and friends for the Fourth of July. Most of us will have picnics and fireworks with friends and family while enjoying the outdoors, but let us not forget what the 4th of July is really all about. Let us take a moment to reflect on the sacrifices made by those brave men and women in uniform who protect our enduring freedom every day.

At first, I didn’t think much about my husband being in the military because he was a Reservist only drilling once a month and going away for annual training two weeks a year. Almost ten years later and I look back today in such amazement, because I truly was so inexperienced and had no idea what this life would bring me. As crazy as military life may be at times, I would not change one thing about it. I do however wish I’d had someone at the time who could have guided me and prepared me for what I was about to experience.

Pat Rowe is a self described Mom-On-a-Mission. As a means of overcoming her own personal struggles, she reached out in big ways to the Veterans in her community and has had a huge impact on so many lives.