The Difference
Over the years, I’ve talked a lot about military spouses…how special they are
and the price they pay for freedom too. The funny thing about it, is most
military spouses don’t consider themselves different from other spouses. They
do what they have to do, bound together not by blood or merely friendship, but
with a shared spirit whose origin is in the very essence of what love truly is.
Is there truly a difference? I think there is. You have to decide for
yourself.
and the price they pay for freedom too. The funny thing about it, is most
military spouses don’t consider themselves different from other spouses. They
do what they have to do, bound together not by blood or merely friendship, but
with a shared spirit whose origin is in the very essence of what love truly is.
Is there truly a difference? I think there is. You have to decide for
yourself.
Other spouses get married and look forward to building equity in a home and
putting down family roots. Military spouses get married and know they’ll live
in base housing or rent, and their roots must be short so they can be
transplanted frequently.
putting down family roots. Military spouses get married and know they’ll live
in base housing or rent, and their roots must be short so they can be
transplanted frequently.
Other spouses decorate a home with flair and personality that will last a
lifetime. Military spouses decorate a home with flare tempered with the
knowledge that no two base houses have the same size windows or same size
rooms. Curtains have to be flexible and multiple sets are a plus. Furniture
must fit like puzzle pieces.
lifetime. Military spouses decorate a home with flare tempered with the
knowledge that no two base houses have the same size windows or same size
rooms. Curtains have to be flexible and multiple sets are a plus. Furniture
must fit like puzzle pieces.
Other spouses have living rooms that are immaculate and seldom used. Military
spouses have immaculate living room/dining room combos. The coffee table got a
scratch or two moving from Germany, but it still looks pretty good.
spouses have immaculate living room/dining room combos. The coffee table got a
scratch or two moving from Germany, but it still looks pretty good.
Other spouses say good-bye to their spouse for a business trip and know they
won’t see them for a week. They are lonely, but can survive. Military spouses
say good-bye to their deploying spouse and know they won’t see them for months,
or for a remote, a year. They are lonely, but will survive.
won’t see them for a week. They are lonely, but can survive. Military spouses
say good-bye to their deploying spouse and know they won’t see them for months,
or for a remote, a year. They are lonely, but will survive.
Other spouses, when a washer hose blows off, call Maytag and then write a check
out for getting the hose reconnected. Military spouses will cut the water off
and fix it themselves.
out for getting the hose reconnected. Military spouses will cut the water off
and fix it themselves.
Other spouses get used to saying “hello” to friends they see all the time.
Military spouses get used to saying “good-bye” to friends made the last two
years.
Military spouses get used to saying “good-bye” to friends made the last two
years.
Other spouses worry about whether their child will be class president next
year. Military spouses worry about whether their child will be accepted in yet
another new school next year and whether that school will be the worst in the
city…again.
year. Military spouses worry about whether their child will be accepted in yet
another new school next year and whether that school will be the worst in the
city…again.
Other spouses can count on spouse participation in special events…birthdays,
anniversaries, concerts, football games, graduation, and even the birth of a
child. Military spouses only count on each other; because they realize that
the Flag has to come first if freedom is to survive. It has to be that way.
anniversaries, concerts, football games, graduation, and even the birth of a
child. Military spouses only count on each other; because they realize that
the Flag has to come first if freedom is to survive. It has to be that way.
Other spouses put up yellow ribbons when the troops are imperiled across the
globe and take them down when the troops come home. Military spouses wear
yellow ribbons around their hearts and they never go away.
globe and take them down when the troops come home. Military spouses wear
yellow ribbons around their hearts and they never go away.
Other spouses worry about being late for mom’s Thanksgiving dinner. Military
spouses worry about getting back from Japan in time for dad’s funeral.
spouses worry about getting back from Japan in time for dad’s funeral.
And other spouses are touched by the television program showing an elderly lady
putting a card down in front of a long, black wall that has names on it. The
card simply says “Happy Birthday, Sweetheart. You would have been sixty
today.” A military spouse is the lady with the card. And the wall is the
Vietnam Memorial.
putting a card down in front of a long, black wall that has names on it. The
card simply says “Happy Birthday, Sweetheart. You would have been sixty
today.” A military spouse is the lady with the card. And the wall is the
Vietnam Memorial.
I would never say military spouses are better or worse than other spouses are.
But I will say there is a difference. And I will say that our country asks
more of military spouses than is asked of other spouses. And I will say,
without hesitation, that military spouses pay just as high a price for freedom
as do their active duty husbands or wives. Perhaps the price they pay is even
higher. Dying in service to our country isn’t near as hard ad loving someone
who has died in service to our country, and having to live without them.
But I will say there is a difference. And I will say that our country asks
more of military spouses than is asked of other spouses. And I will say,
without hesitation, that military spouses pay just as high a price for freedom
as do their active duty husbands or wives. Perhaps the price they pay is even
higher. Dying in service to our country isn’t near as hard ad loving someone
who has died in service to our country, and having to live without them.
God bless our military spouses for all they freely give. And God bless
America.
America.
By Colonel Steven Arrington
17th Training Wing vice commander
Goodfellow AFB
San Angelo, Texas
17th Training Wing vice commander
Goodfellow AFB
San Angelo, Texas
God Bless Colonel Steven Arrington for telling it like it is...and God Bless Lindsey Riel for reposting this! :)
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