Warrior Moms

A few weeks ago I wrote about ‘Warrior Women’….the fact that there is now evidence that Amazon women did actually exist thanks to archeological digs and DNA evidence founds in the steppes of Russia. 

Today I want to write about ‘Warrior Moms’.  As usual I was watching Oprah from wince comes my inspiration.  Today’s broadcast was on military families and their struggles.  Her honored guests included Tom Brokaw, Bob Woodward and Michelle Obama.

The first family featured was an Army soldier who came back from Iraq with severe head injuries including blindness.  His wife, Jenny, brought tears to my eyes.  Her story and that of her family portrayed sacrifice and moral fortitude that is so far beyond anything I’ve ever experienced that it is difficult to find the words that begin to do her justice.  In addition to full time care for her now permanently disabled husband their two young children of course need her attention and care. 

Teresa is a Mom who lost her twenty-two year old son to the war in Iraq.  Five-six times a year she makes a 5 hour drive to Arlington National Cemetery to read her son’s favorite book to him, place flowers, talk to him and leave his favorite food behind at his grave marker.  Six years later she still misses him like the day she attended his funeral.

Bob Woodward has studied and written about the affects of the war on American military families and one of his comments struck a chord with me…that we have an ‘epidemic of disconnection’ happening in our country as evidenced by how most of us pay little or no attention to the plight of our military families.  He noted that ‘we get into trouble when we don’t pay attention’ and my gut tells me he is right on target. 

I had never heard the terms ‘Gold Star’ and ‘Blue Star’ families before… Blue Star representing those families with active duty soldiers among their ranks and ‘Gold Star’ for those families who have lost a loved one.   They also mentioned a website where you can locate wounded soldiers in your community to reach out to them and their families.  I tried to find the site with no luck.  If anyone finds it, please send it to me. 

Oprah noted how every teacher should know which kids in the classroom have a father or mother deployed and how every church member should know who in their congregation is either a Blue Star or Gold Star family. 

The stories of these Warrior Moms brought tears to my eyes.  Their bravery, their fidelity ….every act of their lives serves as role models for all of us.  Whether genetically or spiritually, we have Warrior Women living quiet lives among us, it is time to reach out and embrace them.

If you want to act now, try the link below.

serve.gov