Military Family Month

"No one pays a higher price for our freedom than members of our Nation's military and their families. As sons and daughters, husbands and wives, and mothers and fathers are deployed, military families endure with exceptional resilience and courage. They provide our troops with invaluable encouragement and love, and serve our Nation in their own right. During Military Family Month, we honor the families of our Armed Forces and thank them for their dedication to our country." -President Barack Obama

This is how President Obama opened his proclamation to make November 2009 a Military Family Month. He encouraged "all Americans to honor military families through private actions and public service for the tremendous contributions they make in the support of our service members and our Nation."

He set an example of both private actions and public service by signing the Military Spouses Residency Relief Act which exists to ease the paperwork and hassles that come from changing one's residency every time the military moves a family. Now spouses can maintain a residency in one state, in much the same way service members have been able to for decades due to the Soldier and Sailor Relief Act. Taking time out of his Veterans' Day plans, Obama showed military families that he makes them a priority.

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What are you doing to honor military families this month? Have you chosen a public service such a volunteering with relief organizations or donating to morale groups? Have you done private actions such as bringing a family dinner while their dad is deployed or helping a struggling mom with a gift card to Harris Teeter? Every act, small or large, makes a rippling effect- blessing a family, strengthening morale for a deployed service member and, generally, aiding the troops in accomplishing their mission with a little less worry for their families tonight.

Remember if you are looking for a public opportunity, in the privacy of your home or office, just text PATRIOT to 90999! $5 can go a long way in supporting military families this month!