With every man that is serving in Iraq or Afghanistan, there are many loving and supportive family members and friends that are struggling to deal with this challenging and painful situation.  I can’t offer too much advice to those that are serving, but I do think that it’s extremely important to offer support to the loved ones who are fighting their own battle to stay strong at home.
I have some experience with military relationships, so I would like to start reaching out to women who have loved ones in the military and are looking for answers.  It is an extremely …read more

With thoughts of patriotism in our minds around the Fourth of July, why not  teach our children more about the Service Flags for military personnel serving, injured or killed?  These window or service flags are part of our history and originated to commemorate soldiers in World War I, sometimes called The Great War.
I found one in my grandmother’s memorabilia trunk.  It represented her son, my Uncle Charles, who served in that war and came back alive.  These flags, a blue star on white background surrounded by a red border hung in the windows of families who had a member fighting for …read more

“‘”There is no one more surprised than I — except, of course, my husband. You know what they say, ‘Behind every successful woman there is an astonished man.’” said Ann E. Dunwoody, 55, the first female four-star General in the United States Army.

“I grew up in a family that didn’t know what glass ceilings were,” she said. “This nomination only reaffirms what I have known to be true about the military throughout my career — that the doors continue to open for men and women in uniform.”

Read about her rise to power in a very, very patriarchal profession on MSNBC.com

Salute!

My dad retired a few years ago as a Col. in the Utah Air National Guard. He was active duty Air Force when I was growing up.

Last week he swore my little brother into the Navy. My brother will be a Navy Chaplain, serving those men and women who need compassion and spiritual guidance in the face of the extreme conditions of war and separations from their families. He’ll serve in the reserves until he completes a masters degree in theology.

“Was dad really, really proud when he swore you in?” I asked my brother.

“Are you really, really proud?” my brother …read more