The Iraq War and Military Spouses

With all the talk of war, extended deployments and troops being sent overseas to remote locations, people often just look at the military members hardship or what is being done to get us out of Iraq. It is a hardship. It is a trial of their devotion to our country and doing what they signed up to so. But people often over look the family they leave behind. Wives, husbands, children, parents and siblings. Being a military wife, I can give you my biased outlook on the war, Iraq and saying goodbye to the love of my life.

When my husband joined the Air Force, I knew he would be deployed at some point in time. That is inevitable for a person serving in the military. Most of the time you don't know when or where they will be going or when they will return until the dates is right upon you. Imagine that, my civilian friends. If your spouse goes away for a business trip it may be 2-3 or a week or two. You talk everyday, say the words of endearment, talk of the gossips and say good night to your loved ones every night they are away. Now imagine saying goodbye to your husband or wife and not knowing when you will see them again, never less talk to them again. Wondering if they are safe, if they are thinking of you, when they will call. Not knowing for sure if they will even come home. This is the military spouse's worst fear.

But we endure it. We stand by our husbands and wives. We support them and what they are doing for our country. This is not saying that every single military spouse out there supports this war. How could you fully support something that takes away your loved ones? But we support our soldiers, our Marines, our sailors and our airmen in the time they need it most.

When a group of men and women leave a base to be deployed overseas, you will see a community banding together under one cause, to see that our rights as Americans stay strong. That is what these people are fighting for, for us. In the same way, military spouses are fighting this war along side them. We are always in the hearts of our spouses as they are in ours. We say goodbye and go back to living a life with a giant hole in it that no one can fill. We become both mom and dad to the children that may not understand what is going on. We stay strong. What else can we do. Kicking and screaming will do nothing but cause bitterness and hatred and allow it to grow.

When talks of war come up, think of the ordeals the military members are facing, and think of the sacrifices their families are enduring without complaint. You do not have to support this war to support the bonds of love and family that go along with it.