Married to the Army

I am thankful for...

I will keep this post Army related but I wanted to post about the things that I am most thankful for that the Army in one way or another helped to provide...

• My husband returned home safely from four deployments
• We have made lifelong friends in the military, two of which are here spending Thanksgiving with us and two others who are coming for Christmas
• We appreciate the little things in life
• We don't take the time we have together for granted any more
• We greatly improved our verbal communication skills during deployments
• We know that it isn't about celebrating the holiday on the actual holiday. The celebration is when we can share it together...even if that means Christmas in June. 
• We have a greater appreciation for our country and the freedoms it provides. We respect our flag and those who defend it.

How about you? Has the Army provided a new perspective that you are thankful for as well?

Christmas Mailing Dates

It is time to get a move on with those Christmas packages. In order for them to arrive on time in Iraq and Afghanistan, they need to be shipped no later than December 4th. Packages going to other military bases overseas can be sent as late as December 11th. Remember that you can use the largest flat rate box for $2 less than the stated rate if it is going to an APO address.

When my husband was deployed at Christmas, I sent tons of inexpensive Christmas decorations. I say inexpensive because I knew after the holiday was over, he wouldn't have a place to store them so he was able to just throw them away. I also sent Christmas stockings for him and his roommates as well as extra gifts (nothing expensive) for the single guys that were with him.

It made me happy to know that he and the guys with him would have something to open on Christmas and it kept me a little more occupied as I was shopping for the Christmas gifts. If you can, consider adopting a single guy or two in your husband's unit who otherwise may not receive anything this year. Your husband should be able to tell you who that may be.

Now, get shopping! :) Black Friday will be a great day to get some deals!

Involve Your Deployed Soldier in Christmas

I just saw this advertised in a parenting magazine and had to share. Hallmark has introduced a recordable storybook for "The Night Before Christmas". How neat would it be to send this to your deployed spouse, have him record the story and then send it back to your child. They could hear the story of the night before Christmas straight from Mom or Dad.

The books are available at Hallmark stores and you can see more about it here:

Hallmark Book

By the way, this is not a paid advertisement or affiliate link of any type. I just think it is a really neat idea and wish they would come out with an entire series with our military members in mind!

USMC Licensing

Or am I even allowed to still refer to the USMC? Shopkeepers on Cafepress and Zazzle, many of whom are veterans and military family members, were dealt quite a blow yesterday. The Marine Corps has now trademarked many of their symbols and the actual words Marines, U.S. Marine Corps, USMC and a few others. Basically good luck on making any sort of design where it can be worded in a way that it actually identifies the owner as a supporter of the Marines.

To be a licensee, there is a long list of requirements that must be met and even then, there is no guarantee that you will be approved. Among the most significant is the $1,000 licensing fee as well as a minimum of $5,000 in royalties every year. Since when did the Marine Corps become a business entity making a profit?

Why take away the ability for many military family members and Veterans to support themselves financially while showing support for those who are serving? Was the free advertising identifying proud family members not enough for the Marine Corps? Apparently not.

I predict you can kiss good-bye any creativity in designs in the future as well as the possibility to customize an item with your Marine's name and rank.

If the Army follows suit, a portion of my business will disappear overnight. I feel very badly for those who were making these designs who were dependent on the income. Nice job, Marine Corps. Not only do you strip their income away from them with no prior notice, you do it right at the beginning of the holiday season when most families need extra money the most.

I can only pray the Army has more sense.

Veteran's Day

Before my husband joined the military, I am embarrassed to admit that I didn't pay much attention at all to Veteran's Day. In fact, with the exception that it was a holiday when I worked in the banking world, I doubt I even realized it was happening. That's the life of a blissfully unaware person living completely in the civilian world.

When your loved one signs up for the military and deploys multiple times to fight in wars overseas, Veteran's Day takes on an entirely new meaning. I think you have to have the military enter your immediate world in one way or another for it to really impact you. You have to be faced with the difficulties and sacrifices made every day to truly realize what it means when someone serves our country.

Since 2003, I have no longer taken this day for granted. I am thankful not only for the veterans of the past but for those who serve today and will continue to serve. Not only are they going above and beyond the call of duty as citizens of the United States, they hold a belief that their service can change the way our world operates. My husband's service opened my eyes to a world that I only had a vague understanding of and I am grateful that my eyes were opened so that I can appropriately honor, appreciate and thank those who serve with selflessness.

More Military Discounts

Enjoy these additional discounts:

• Outback Steakhouse - free bloomin' onion and beverage of choice for Veterans on November 11th
• Krispy Kreme - free doughnut for Veterans on November 11th
• World of Coca-Cola (Atlanta) - free admission November 7-14 and 50% off for four guests
• Imagine It! (Atlanta) - free admission November 7 - 15
• CNN Studio Tour (Atlanta) - free November 7 - 15
• Chima (Philadelphia) - free dinner for Veterans on November 11th

Be sure to let these businesses know you appreciate what they are doing so they will continue to do it in the years to come.

Free Books for Military Families

Military One Source has free books available for military families. Each military family is entitled to up to 10 books each year. The books are completely free (including shipping). Titles include fiction and non-fiction in paperback and audio versions. The site states that the books will be shipped within 10-14 days from the time the order is placed but several indicated they received them much earlier.

Visit Military One Source and click on Tools, then Library Books.

Discounts in Honor of Veteran's Day

1. Knott's Berry Farm:

Free admission for military member (past or present) and guest. Military member must present proof of service. Offer good November 1st - Thanksgiving.

2. Applebee's

Veterans and military members eat free on November 11th

3. Golden Corral

Free dinner for military member (past and present) on November 16th from 5pm - 9pm.

4. Build-A-Bear

20% discount on one transaction on Veteran's Day with the presentation of a military ID.

Do you know of other discounts? Let everyone know by posting a comment!

Military Spouse Residency Relief Passes House

^{(WASHINGTON, DC) – The U.S. House of Representatives today approved the Military Spouse Residency Relief Act as part of the House Suspension Calendar by a unanimous voice vote. President Barack Obama is expected to sign the legislation into law within the next few days.}

^{The House action today brings to a legislative conclusion a three-year quest by U.S. Rep. John Carter (R-TX) to improve the legal residency status of military spouses that began in 2007. Carter originally introduced the bill in the 110th Congress in May 2008, then again in the 111th Congress this February as HR 1182 in the House, and by Senators Richard Burr (R-NC) and Diane Feinstein (D-CA) as S. 475 in the Senate.}

^{"This is fantastic news for our service families worldwide," says Carter. "We should have done this long ago, but at least we are now on track to have a new law in 2009." Watch Carter's remarks on the House Floor here.}

^{The bill allows a military spouse who moves out of a state with their service member under military orders to have the option to claim the same state of domicile as their active duty spouse, regardless of where they are stationed. Service members themselves have had that option for decades, while spouse did not, leaving many families with split residencies.}

Vets Prevail

I was honored to be contacted to be included in getting the word out about the Vets Prevail program. This is a six-week program that is delivered online through interactive video and instant message chats with licensed individuals to help veterans readjust to life after deployment.

I have reviewed several modules of the training and it is very professional and easy to use. Most of all, it seems it will be very beneficial to our loved ones after serving overseas. Because it is developed by veterans, there's no gap in understanding between the civilian and military world that typically accompanies these programs.

Watch the video below. If you or a loved one are in need of this confidential training, please send me an email. MTTA visitors have 15 slots reserved for the Veteran's Day launch of the program. Rest assured your information is confidential and as soon as I deliver the log-in codes to you, I'm no longer privy to any information.

You can also check out the press release or visit the Vets Prevail website.