Military Spouses Appreiciation Day

"BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA A PROCLAMATION Military spouses embody the courage, nobility of duty, and love of country that inspire
every American. On Military Spouse Day, we pay tribute to the husbands and wives
who support their spouses in America's Armed Forces during times of war and
peace. The legacy of military spouses began when colonial Americans were
fighting for independence. Martha Washington boosted the morale of her husband's
troops by visiting battlefields and tending to the wounded. Since then, members
of our Armed Forces have served our Nation accompanied by the steadfast love and
support of their spouses and families. While our men and women in uniform are
protecting our country's founding ideals of liberty, democracy, and justice,
their spouses live with uncommon challenges, endure sleepless nights, and spend
long periods raising children alone. Many military spouses are also committed
volunteers, serving other military families and local communities. Our Nation
benefits from the sacrifices of our military families, and we are inspired by
their courage, strength, and leadership. On Military Spouse Day and throughout
the year, we honor the commitment spouses have made to freedom's cause. To learn
about ways to support our troops and their spouses and families, I encourage all
Americans to visit www.americasupportsyou.mil. NOW, THEREFORE, I,
GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the
authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do
hereby proclaim May 9, 2008, as Military Spouse Day. I call upon the people of
the United States to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities
and by expressing their gratitude to the husbands and wives of those serving in
the United States Armed Forces. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand
this fifth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand eight, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-second.
- GEORGE W. BUSH"

Besides the fact that Reagan officially started MSA Day in 1984, (the Friday before Mother's Day eacy year), I really do appreciate that someone is thinking of us. Not many people really know what it's like to be the one left at home. Thankfully, my husband isn't in a high risk area, but anything could happen. To anyone who has ever had the furnace go out or the car break down or the children end up in the hospital or had a baby on their own, thank you. To those of you who have kept things running, dealt with the emotions of young children who don't understand, made pancakes for dinner, tried to make it through the first night without the ugly cry, gotten the phone call that extends deployment indefinitely and still made it though, thank you. To those of you who have started the truck now and then while your LO was gone, dealt with pay issues on your own, gone to the commissary with less than $30 and found no bananas or tomatos, support your local Family Readiness Group, and done all your LO's chores, thank you. If you have volunteered to make life easier somehow for someone going through it all while going through it yourself, thank you. To those of you who have lived life in limbo, while the military decided where you would live and when you would leave, who have lived without household goods for any period of time, who have moved more than most, made lifetime friendships with people you will never see again and made do with what you could to keep things going, thank you. If you speak military acronym speak like COB, LES, PSD, NBK, FFSP, MM, or SSBN, thank you. If you have lived for an unexpected text message or a 2 minute phone call, for the sound of your loved one's voice however brief, if you have ever watched home videos with your kids in hopes that the baby will still remember your loved one whenever they do return, thank you. To those of you who have sacrificed, lived and thrived, even through the hard and desperate times, thank you.