POTUS declares today Military Spouse Appreciation Day

Published May 6, 2011
By Tech. Sgt. Chyenne A. Adams
AFDW Public Affairs

AIR FORCE DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama has declared May 6 as Military Spouse's Appreciation Day. According to White House releases, this is part of the President and First Lady Michelle Obama's overall campaign to support military families.

"Military spouses serve as steady and supportive partners to the heroes in uniform who protect and defend our great Nation every day. Across America and around the world, military spouses serve our country in their own special way, helping families and friends through the stress of a deployment, caring for our wounded warriors, and supporting each other when a loved one has made the ultimate sacrifice," declared the President in his proclamation, released today.

"On Military Spouse Appreciation Day, let us join together to show our service members we are taking care of their families back home as they serve our nation across the globe. As neighbors, teachers, parents, and fellow citizens, we can reach out to military husbands and wives in our communities. We can show our appreciation in countless ways, from offering to help with household maintenance and childcare to encouraging the community involvement and career development of military spouses.

"It is through our actions that we show our commitment to our service members and their spouses. By embracing military families, we demonstrate our partnership in the defense of our freedom and the security of the United States."

In a previous memorandum released in January, the President declared his support for the campaign "to ensure that our active duty personnel, reservists, guardsmen, veterans, caregivers and their families, including those who have lost a loved one, have the resources they need to be their best."

Today's Presidential Proclamation declared the official military spouses' holiday and calls upon the people of the United States to honor military spouses with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

According to the White House report "Strengthening Our Military Families: Meeting America's Commitment," less than 1 percent of Americans serve in uniform today. More than 2.2 million servicemembers make up America's all-volunteer force in the active, National Guard, and Reserve components.

Since September 11, 2001, more than two million troops have been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. Fifty five percent of the force is married and 40 percent have two children. Only 37 percent of our families live on military installations; the remaining 63 percent live in more than 4,000 communities nationwide. Multiple deployments, combat injuries, and the challenges of reintegration can have far-reaching effects on not only the troops and their families, but also upon America's communities.

As we mark Military Spouse Appreciation Day in the Air Force District of Washington, leadership would like to reaffirm their steadfast commitment to supporting and honoring the husbands, wives, and loved ones of our Nation's servicemembers.

Many agencies on AFDW installations and within the district are available to assist military spouses and families. There are also national Department of Defense programs with resources in the area, and all of them encourage calls at any time. Other programs are available through the U.S. Army, Navy and Coast Guard in the area and the can be easily found online or through a reference from one of the below sources. Social media sources are also available via Twitter and Facebook, with many spouse support pages linked from the 'Air Force District of Washington' Facebook page.

List of Military Spouse resources:

Military One Source 1-800-342-9647

Department of Defense Military Homefront

Joint Base Andrews Family Support Center (301) 981-7087

Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling Family Support Center (202) 767-0450

Military Family Life Consultant for Joint Base Andrews (301) 325-9724

Military Family Life Consultant for the Pentagon (703) 835-3325

Military Family Life Consultant for Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling/11th Operations Group (202) 253-5059

Tragedy Assistance Program for surviving spouses