Month: May 2011

See you next week.

Thank you to Procter & Gamble, Kroger and the USO for sponsoring this blog post and the Shake Hands With A Hero initiative. Please click here to learn more about this program. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

Even though I did not grow up in a military family, the military has been my life for the past 18 years. Right after I got married my husband re-enlisted in the Navy and eighteen years and seven ranks later we are edging closer to retirement. It is hard for me to imagine life outside of the military. For years it has been a constant in a sea of change.

Because of my husband’s service I’ve always appreciated our Armed Forces. I’ve witnessed firsthand the long hours, separation from family, and frequent moves. Even though I always felt like I appreciated our Armed Forces, I didn’t realize how much they meant to me until my husband deployed to Iraq a few years ago. Before his deployment he had always worked long hours, crazy shifts, and even worked next to the detainees in GTMO. But his deployment to Iraq was something different.

I knew the base where he was living and working in Iraq was being mortared. Every.Single.Day. There were no guarantees he would be able to call, no guarantees he would come home. As I drove around the base where we lived I saw yellow ribbons tied to trees, these ribbons were not just a symbol anymore, they meant something more. During the time he was deployed I heard stories of babies being born, babies who would never know their fathers. Children who would never be tucked in by their mom or dad, ever again.

War became real to me that summer and the sacrifice of the men and women of our Armed Forces was more than just a slogan or an idea. It was life. With war came a new sense of pride stirring in my heart. I was proud of my husband, our friends, neighbors, and service members who chose this path. I was proud that my husband was willing to risk his life so that our family could live freely back home. I never understood how precious our freedom is and how easy it is to take for granted until I realized how much there was to lose.

My husband came home, and I watched as he recovered from injuries sustained while deployed. It was a long road to recovery, but as I spent hours at Bethesda Naval Hospital I witnessed young men barely old enough to vote missing arms, legs, or with large scars across their face and head. I was overwhelmed with gratitude for their service and sacrifice. There were times I choked back tears as I watched them, needing assistance to even get through the halls. Often their families were with them. Young wives, babies, children… lives changed forever because of their sacrifice.

It was during this time in my life I realized that a simple Thank You would never be enough, but it was all I could give. My sister-in-law has a wonderful habit, whenever she sees a service member she walks up to them, says thank you, and extends her hand. I’ve always been proud of her for doing that because it does mean something to our service members.

Next week is Armed Forces Week and it’s a great time to recognize our military. Even if you don’t see members of our Armed Forces on a regular basis you can give them a virtual handshake. Kroger and P&G have created an opportunity for you to virtually “shake hands with a hero.” Visit the Honoring Our Heros website to virtually shake a hand, and if you are one of the first 50,000 people to use the site you will receive a $1 off Kroger coupon for P&G products.

As you know, I love companies who support our troops financially or virtually, so I’m proud to help spread the word about this program. Supporting the troops is not about supporting any specific political agenda. Supporting our troops means supporting regular folks who do something extraordinary by signing up to serve.

Procter & Gamble (P&G) and Kroger and its family of stores have partnered together to support the USO – an organization that provides an extensive range of programs at more than 150 centers in 27 countries and at hundreds of entertainment events each year to support the morale, welfare, social and entertainment needs of troops and their families, free of charge – in its mission to help American troops and their families. Through the partnership Kroger will donate $250,000 to the USO.