Written by Angela Caban,

Military service members make sacrifices each day for our freedom and military families constantly make sacrifices, too. As families learn to bravely handle the many challenges that deployment and the military life may bring, others are in awe at just how strong one can be out of nowhere. Where does this strength come from you may ask? There are all many different ways in which families learn to thrive in this lifestyle. And with the help of our neighbors, the possibilities of coping through loneliness are endless. This month, I asked readers, what was the nicest thing a neighbor has done while your loved one was deployed? Below, they answered.

I was really sick, broke and in desperate need of getting to the doctor, which is a 20 minute drive from my home. I had barely any gas in my car at the time. My friend called me and said to meet her at the 7-11 down the road so I did, and she filled my tank.

~Brittany Dawson U.S. Navy Spouse

As we walked through security at the airport, my husband was in uniform leaving us to return to Iraq from R&R. I was teary-eyed at the thought of another sad goodbye, I was proud of my husband as people thanked him for his service. But there was one lady standing at the end of the x-ray machine that reached out her gloved hand to ME and said, “It is an honor to shake your hand and thank you for the sacrifice you are making for our country.” It meant the world to me to know that someone understood that the families who are left behind when a soldier deploys are serving their country too!

~ Heather T. U.S. Army Spouse

ere was one lady standing at the end of the x-ray machine who reached out her gloved hand to ME, and said, “It is an honor to shake your hand and thank you for the sacrifice you are making for our country.” It meant the world to me to know that someone understood that the families who are left behind when a soldier deploys are serving their country too!

~Heather T., Wife of a US Army Soldier

My neighbor mowed my lawn every week because my daughter was only a few months old and I couldn’t go out and do it myself.

~Ashley Lucente U.S. Army Spouse

Neighbors across the street came over with a snow blower and shovel and dug out my vehicles so I could get out of the driveway.

~Shana Couch U.S. Air Force Spouse

A photographer in my parents’ hometown (I moved in with them) took free photos of my son and I. Gave me an album, CD and prints release and then sent the same thing to my husband. And it was all absolutely free! She did it for families of deployed members.

~Amanda Nickell U.S. Air Force Spouse

I’ve been so lucky when it comes to my bonds of sisterhood. My friends always accepted my kids and loved them too! But more than one woman made sure while he was deployed to both Korea and Iraq that I got away and had me time. The Enlisted Spouses Club in Ft Lewis Washington was also a great social outreach. So often women forget that we need get refill our own tanks after we give and give.
~Catressa Villanueva U.S. Army Spouse

Our neighbors plowed our driveway out often (we lived near a snow belt at the time), removed huge branches that fell after ice storms and handed my children’s names in to the fire department so they would receive a Christmas present to let them know they were being remembered while they were sacrificing so much. These neighbors were elderly, and so kind. Also, my mom chose to have surgery while my husband was deployed, not to just have her shoulder fixed, to have time off from work. She helped me run errands & get our groceries while I was seriously chronically ill. I could never thank them enough!

~Amy Wilson U.S. Army Spouse

For more on Angela Caban, visit her website at www.angelacaban.com.

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