Supporting the Troops

At the risk of understatement, it has been a hellish week in the world.

There’s been a lot to follow on several fronts and lots of frightening developments, both abroad and here at home. I think I went from shocked to infuriated to exasperated, and all over again, about 4 times a day. I’m not going to lie, the idea that anyone was flipping out over yet another iPhone in the wake of half a dozen nations trying to provoke us to war was…disturbing.

And seriously, Apple, who decides to do a product launch the week of Sept 11? Did you really think you were going to be the biggest news that week?

Out of all the din, I was brought up short when a fellow milspouse lamented that the troops had been forgotten, not just in the unfolding drama of the week, but in general. You know, one of those, “People care about an ambassador being killed but not about troops that die every day”?

And I understand how it can feel that way. Something civilians don’t always remember is that weeks like these are doubly stressful for our military families. In addition to the initial shock and horror, there are also implications that are very personal. Immediately, a milspouse’s mind leaps to, “What does this mean for my family, not just the world?”

But while civilians don’t always seem the most engaged with the military community moment-by-moment, to say that they don’t care at all is also unfair. Now, I know my perception is a little skewed because I am active in a very patriotic political community, and I grew up in one. Rarely a day goes by that I do not get a spontaneous expression of support and appreciation for myself or my husband. And when a patriotic holiday comes around, watch out – my twitter mentions explode!

But still, I know that not everyone experiences that. Which frankly is a crime considering we’re living in a time of ongoing war over a decade on multiple fronts. But that’s another issue.

Anyway, it made me heartsick to see one of my lovely millies feeling like the country had forgotten her and her soldier. Especially since I know that’s not the case. So, I took it to twitter.

I asked my great twitter friends to let our millies and troops know they were appreciated and not forgotten. I didn’t get to start as early in the day as I wanted, but even still, my twitter peeps didn’t disappoint.

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G'night twitter! God bless our troops and their families. God bless the families of the fallen. And God bless the USA! OurCountryTheSong.com

— Bill (@Patriot1059) September 17, 2012

Recommend following @jacigreggs. Thanks for the follow Jaci, & thanks for you and your husband's service. God bless you & have a great day!

— Linda Kugelman (@elianatrue) September 13, 2012

@jacigreggs On today, 9/11, I want you to thank your husband for me & tell him I appreciate his service making sure there aren't more 9/11's

— Bryan Tupper (@BryTupper) September 12, 2012

@jacigreggs Our family appreciates you, and we're doing what we can and praying that you get a much worthier CINC

— Dan Phillips (@BibChr) September 17, 2012

@jacigreggs God Bless and TY

— cardoctorsr (@cardoctorsr) September 17, 2012

@jacigreggs Thank you for your service god bless you and stay strong

— Brad Essex (@BradEssex) September 17, 2012

@jacigreggs e tell the Troops Thank You from a grateful Nations and we are always thinking of them.

— Carrie Jurgens (@carriejurgens) September 17, 2012

@jacigreggs @davidlimbaugh May the military know they are always loved and thought of and are in my prayers for their safety

— Coleen Trusley (@coleenft) September 17, 2012

@jacigreggs To our military (& their families) - thank you for busting your backs so people round the world can sleep soundly on theirs.

— Christian Collins (@mediachristian4) September 17, 2012

@jacigreggs @davidlimbaugh God bless all our military and their families

— Robert Gresko (@Robert_Gresko) September 17, 2012

@jacigreggs To our beloved military, thank you for being on the front lines defending our Constitution!

— Debbie McEachin (@momarz) September 17, 2012

We, the People, have not forgotten you. We will show you on Nov 6.@jacigreggs @davidlimbaugh

— DA4Liberty (@DA4Liberty) September 17, 2012

@jacigreggs Appreciate efforts of all military personnel and that of their families.

— Michael Macdonald (@FloSafeWater) September 17, 2012

@jacigreggs @davidlimbaugh no US military = no US, no constitution, no freedom.Thank you all for ur service & sacrifice.

— Rick Newby (@RDNewby) September 17, 2012

@jacigreggs @davidlimbaugh We love you Military peoples, please don't forget that.Be safe where ever you are.

— Andy (@andjacsar) September 17, 2012

@jacigreggs Prayed with my girls to bless the Moms and Dads who are away from their families to help keep our family free and safe.#thankful

— Rachael Starke (@rachaelstarke) September 18, 2012

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And that was just by the time I went to bed.

The point is, they haven’t forgotten us, millies. Even when it feels like we’re all doing very thankless jobs, especially our servicemembers, they believe that our servicemembers are America’s best, bravest and brightest and deserve nothing but this nation’s unconditional gratitude and support.

On the other hand, civilians need to remember that the general warm fuzzies they feel when they see the meme pics of deployed soldiers on facebook (and they do feel them) don’t go past their four walls unless they are turned into words. If you happen to run across a milspouse at the store or in social media, do say a quick “Thanks, we’re praying for you.” I’m not asking for myself, because like I said, I’m already pretty blessed in that area. But maybe the millie you’re encountering at that moment just dealt with all three kids having the flu and her van’s engine light just came on and she hasn’t heard from her husband in 3 weeks. It might be awkward for you, a spontaneous expression of gratitude, but it might just be the bright point in that woman’s day.

As would be helping her carry her groceries to said van. Just sayin’.