Like many brides-to-be, I recall stressing about all of the little details in the months leading up to my big day — from last dance songs to the 200 homemade chocolate truffles I decided to crank out as party favors. When I look back at this landmark life event, however, the things that come to mind are not the DIY seating cards or painful shoes no one really noticed. I think fondly about my husband, friends, family, food and how we kept the memories alive through quality photos.
Military spouse and event planner Bree Carroll shares some great advice in this issue’s article “5 tips for planning a military wedding on a budget.” She suggests prioritizing “what is most important.” Sometimes that means simply planning your wedding in between deployments, PCSing and all of the ups and downs of military life.
Her reminder helps couples refocus on investing time and money in what really matters. She also recommends researching all the available resources, like Operation Deploy Your Dress Bridal. Newlywed Jessica Johnson used the nonprofit to secure the gown of her dreams (for free) that she wore when she married Army Staff Sgt. Michael Crowe. Read about her experience in our cover feature recognizing the one-year anniversary of ODYD’s bridal program on page 8.
Interested in more ways to prioritize during your time off duty? In this edition we also tell you how to make the most of family time with
summer road trips from major installations that create miles of memories. If you are interested in a unique way to bond with fellow active-duty service members while focusing on health and wellness, check out writer Chris Adams’ piece on a popular military endurance group.
And don’t miss reading about how the Army is expanding benefits for soldiers who are parents. Managing Editor Bianca Strzalkowski reports on how this will affect military families, including allowing more off-duty time.
Whether you are in the midst of life’s biggest moments or just trying to make the most of every day, never lose sight of what matters most.
Thanks for reading,
Melissa M. Stewart Content Editor
Chris Adams
Bree Carroll
Lucretia Cunningham
Nikki Davidson
Pilar Davis
Elena Ferrarin
Andrea Downing Peck
Peyton
by Lucretia Cunningham
by Nikki Davidson
by Andrea Downing Peck
by Pilar Davis by Elena Ferrarin
1.6 billion
That’s how many gallons of ice cream Americans eat each year, according to the International Dairy Food Association. It breaks down to about 32 pints per person. In 1984, President Ronald Reagan designated July as National Ice Cream Month and the third Sunday of the month as National Ice Cream Day. Make sure to keep an eye out on www.militaryfamilies.com for our feature on a military spouse who spends his summer days manning an ice cream truck!
“The Terminal List,” a new series starring Chris Pratt, is available on Prime Video. Pratt plays a Navy SEAL who returns to civilian life after his team is ambushed during a high-stakes mission in the thriller based on the Jack Carr novel.
July 25 is National Hire a Veteran Day. It was first observed in 2017. This day serves as a reminder to employers to consider hiring our nation’s veterans as they transition from military service.
—U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona when talking about military teens at the 2022 State of the Military Family Summit. The National Military Family Association, along with Bloom: Empowering the Military Teen, recently released The Military Teen Experience 2022. To find out what 2,500 military teens had to say, check out the full survey results at https://www.militaryfamily. org/the-military-teen-experience-2022/.
They shouldn’t have to work twice as hard because their commitment is greater than most.”
This month Military Families Magazine features Kids’ Cake Boxes as part of our #MilitaryFamiliesFavorites program. Watch our Instagram page @militaryfamiliesmagazine for your chance to win a Kids’ Cake Box of your own and start baking some memories!
Our Military Families Magazine Book Club pick for July is “The Atlas Six” by Olivie Blake. Part “The Hunger Games,” part “Harry Potter,” this fantasy novel took TikTok by storm when it launched, and fan reaction drove the title onto the New York Times bestseller lists. You’ll find a full review this month on militaryfamilies.com, and be on the lookout for our #militaryfamiliesbookclub summer reading challenge!
What do you love about being a military family? We asked, and you answered.
“TDYs and deployments are hard, but they have made us closer than ever. I love how close our little military family is.”
Read more of our favorite responses on our website at https://militaryfamilies.com/relationships/what-do-you-loveabout-being-a-military-family/
Between PCS season and vacations while kids are out of school, Space-A flights are jam-packed during the summer. But, armed with a little knowledge and luck, you can still score a free flight! Check out our digital story on tips for hopping on a Space-A flight during the next few months at https://militaryfamilies.com/military-travel/ what-you-should-know-about-flying-space-a-thissummer/
Like many brides, Jessica Johnson picked out her wedding dress with her mom, mother-in-law and best friend. However, she didn’t say “yes to the dress” in a bridal boutique. Johnson chose her wedding dress over Zoom.
“It was perfect. The dress was everything I’d hoped for,” she said.
Not only that, the “perfect dress” was free, thanks to Operation Deploy Your Dress (ODYD), a nonprofit Johnson was familiar with as the daughter of an Army sergeant major. Her father has served almost 30 years.
“My mom has volunteered with ODYD throughout the years, and I donated a lot of my homecoming and prom dresses,” she said.
The nonprofit’s mission is to help offset the high cost of attending formal military functions by providing (or “deploying,” as the organization calls it) dresses from 13 brick and mortar shops at Army and joint installations across the U.S. and in Germany. The ODYD shops are run solely by military spouse volunteers. Dresses are distributed to all branches and all ranks.
Now in its sixth year, ODYD was never supposed to be a nonprofit.
“It was just supposed to be a weekend project to help our community,” said ODYD CEO and co-founder Yvonne Coombes, an Army spouse who was stationed at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, at the time.
“Units were having balls; a few of us spouses came up with the idea for a dress swap. We hoped to collect a couple hundred dresses,” she said.
The group of Army spouses smashed that goal, collecting more than 3,000 dresses.
It didn’t take long to realize they were on to something.
“The need was there. And the desire to support this was there,” Coombes said.
When she thinks back to that first dress swap, Coombes said people couldn’t believe the dresses were free.
“Not only that, but the dresses were theirs to keep,” she said. “They weren’t just borrowing them. It was so exciting to see that our efforts were so appreciated.”
Since that first effort six years ago, ODYD has deployed more than 16,500 gowns, saving military families nearly $2 million,
collectively, by the organization’s estimate.
For several years, ODYD turned away donations of wedding dresses. After all —
“Most of our dress recipients for military balls and other formal events were already married,” Coombes said.
But in 2021, the organization got an offer it couldn’t refuse.
“A dress company offered us 250 brand new, unaltered wedding dresses,” she said. “What an opportunity!”
ODYD Bridal Edition launched last June with the help of Monte Durham, the famed bridal consultant from the television reality show “Say Yes To The Dress - Atlanta,” to make the announcement
ODYD began accepting applications. Brides-to-be were eligible if they were the child or fiancée of an active-duty service member.
Johnson was both and jumped on the opportunity when she learned about the new bridal program.
“My mom sent me the link,” Johnson said. So,
I applied to get a free wedding dress, and I was selected!”
Johnson married her husband, Michael Crowe, an Army staff sergeant, in March 2021. It was a small elopement given the COVID-19 pandemic and limitations on travel and large events.
“Eloping was what was best for us at the time, but we hoped the day would come where we’d be able to celebrate with friends and family,” she said. “We wanted to have that special moment. I wanted to have my dad walk me down the aisle.”
Shortly after she eloped, Johnson applied for ODYD’s bridal program.
“I got an email letting me know I was selected, and it was so exciting.”
Once brides-to-be are accepted into the program, they gain access to a Facebook page where they can preview the dresses available to them ahead of their virtual styling appointment.
“I had my eye on a dress from the beginning, but you select a dress based on your wedding date, so I was nervous that particular dress wasn’t going to be available when I did my styling appointment,” Johnson said.
Johnson was paired with virtual bridal stylist Flor Anchondo. She was an Army spouse of 27 years who began volunteering with ODYD while stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord
in Washington state, eventually becoming the shop manager.
“They were looking for volunteers, and I thought it would be something fun to do, and I just immediately fell in love with it,” she said.
But when Anchondo PCSed to Fort Lee in Virginia, there wasn’t an ODYD shop where she could volunteer.
“I still wanted to be involved, so when they started the bridal program and asked me if I wanted to help out, I said, ‘Of course!’ I was ecstatic to do so,” Anchondo said.
After some training, she began as an ODYD bridal consultant.
“They set up styling sessions for brides who have been accepted into the program, and I meet with them on Zoom. Some invite their families and friends to join us and to have that experience,” she said.
When Anchondo met with Johnson for her virtual styling appointment, they discussed Johnson’s style preferences, the venue and the type of wedding she was having.
“Then we go over the dresses available in their size range,” Anchondo said.
And as luck would have it, “the dress” Johnson had her eye on from the start was still available.
“I couldn’t believe it,” Johnson said. “I picked out the dress in August, it was sent to me a few weeks later and I had virtual fitting appointments in October. After the alterations, it fit me like a glove.”
Johnson and her groom said “I do” (again) on Feb. 12, 2022, in Savannah, Georgia.
“It was a huge blessing to be gifted a wedding gown — and not have to worry about that expense on top of all of those other wedding expenses,” Johnson said.
But Coombes said it’s about more than just a dress.
“It’s really special to be the organization that welcomes a new military spouse to the greater military family.”
For more information about ODYD –Bridal or to apply to the program visit https://operationdeployyourdress. org/odyd-bridal.
BY BREE CARROLL
Before you get swept away in picture perfect pins or glamorous wedding day reels, don’t forget a very important factor in wedding planning: your budget. Since finances can be a top point of contention between couples, I am sharing my favorite tips on planning a fiscallyconscious military wedding that is still social media-worthy and packed with your must-have experiences.
Determine what your magic number is.
The best budgets require honest conversations about money. Begin by thinking about what you can comfortably afford to spend. Next, consider if you’d like the support of friends or family. According to the WeddingWire Newlywed Report, parents pay for 52% of wedding expenses, while the couple pays for 47%. If this is true for you, your wedding budget just doubled. Also, allowing friends to gift you with wedding-specific items can free up cash, but make sure they are not in your top three priority categories so you remain in control of those areas (more on that in tip two).
No two wedding budgets are alike and anyone who tells you that is setting you up for failure. An effective budget is based on your priorities so that you account for what’s important to you and don’t overspend in areas that you’ll regret later. Start by looking at categories of spending and individually pick your top three. Shift your budget to accommodate more for your priorities and less for other items. Your lower priorities can be things that you allow others to take on. A prioritized budget gives you the freedom to confidently spend toward what you value most.
Look for freebies to maximize your budget. ODYD - Bridal is now my new favorite way to save money and still look your best with top designs available to meet your unique bridal style. Other fun freebies may include stationery printables,
digital invitations, wedding websites and venues like local parks, beaches and private properties of people you know.
do without.
Having planned several weddings, this is an unpopular option at first glance, but in hindsight, many couples wish they had made more cuts. Take this tip as your permission to do your wedding your way. Cutting meals, third cousin guests you don’t talk to and traditional “must do’s” can be a great way to curate an experience that you love within your budget.
Tap into the best part of our military community.
Military weddings can be a fun opportunity to connect with others in our community. Look for military spouses, active-duty service members and veterans who can provide products and services that you need for your nuptials. Not only can you provide an opportunity to more military spouse-owned businesses, but you can also stay on budget with the community who understands the lifestyle you will be stepping into.
BY LUCRETIA CUNNINGHAM
After separating from the military in 2015, Army veteran and fashion designer Timeekah “Murph” Murphy didn’t intentionally set out to create a brand celebrities love. Now, with big-name clients like Nick Cannon and Cardi B in her portfolio, Murphy has overcome a turbulent upbringing in the Bronx and credits her military background for leading to her destiny.
After moving her clothing line, Alani Taylor, from Los Angeles to Atlanta early this year, Murphy said she continues to apply an Army mindset. Her plans to expand her empire include starting a youth fashion design school and reinvigorating her designer-collaboration company “The Zenith Experience.” These goals are connected to the concept “no man left behind.” Murphy’s company seeks to connect emerging creatives with prospective clients to build skills for success.
“Zenith is the highest point of your life, and I’ve been able to reach that,” Murphy said. “When you finally understand who you are as a person and when you find your identity, I think that’s the day you’re born. I’ve probably been through more as a kid than I did in the military, but to come out of it and turn out the way God intended for you in the first place is the ultimate blessing.”
Finding her identity as an “eclectic, highfashion streetwear” creator with genderbending designs has earned Murphy notoriety in the industry. Beyoncé’s designer asked for the Zenith Experience collection for the singer’s “Black is King” project with Disney. After that came mentions in Bazaar, Vogue and Paper magazines.
However, she didn’t achieve success without challenges. Murphy earned a basketball scholarship from Duke University before an accident on the court put her in a coma and caused severe memory loss. Getting back to life meant relearning everything, including how to “be whatever age I was at the time.”
The accident also snuffed her passion for basketball and ultimately forced her onto another path. That’s when Murphy said she “accidentally” joined the Army.
“Coming from where we do with drugs and murder and not having a mother and father in our lives, my brother decided to go into the Air Force after high school, and I saw a change in him,” Murphy said. “He looked different, and he walked different. When I saw a recruiter, I didn’t know there were branches to the service. I just knew my brother was in the military, and that’s where I’m going. I didn’t know I was in the Army until I swore in.”
After reluctantly realizing she had no idea what she had gotten herself into, Murphy became the model soldier. Her supervising NCOs loved that she applied her athleticism and competitive spirit to master push-ups and miles-long ruck marches. Murphy deployed five times while on active duty and was stationed in Kuwait when she discovered sewing-instruction videos on YouTube.
Limited fashionable options at the post exchange prompted Murphy to call home and ask for a sewing machine and fabric in her care packages. It wasn’t long before other soldiers sought out her handmade off-duty outfits and ultimately jump-started Murphy’s first fashiondesign business. Upon returning to her station at Fort Hood, Texas, she participated in her first runway fashion show in Dallas.
“Because of my head injury, I notice I can’t register or maintain information like I would have before — everything has to be visual,” she explained. “I could watch a sewing video and know exactly what they did and how to mimic it.”
Traditionally, a designer creates a pattern to cut fabric for a piece of clothing. However, Murphy’s non-traditional learning style allows her to operate by memorizing body shapes and cutting to fit her model’s body without needing a pattern.
Murphy’s last deployment as a 91D Tactical Power Generation specialist came in 2014. When she returned, Murphy went through being medically separated after 12 years of active-duty service. She endured another head injury, and increasing memory loss became detrimental to herself and her soldiers as a platoon leader.
“I just said, ‘I can’t do this anymore,’” she said. “I didn’t want anyone’s lives in my hands when I felt like I couldn’t protect myself anymore.”
After separating, Murphy honed in on designing. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in fashion design and welcomed her daughter Alani Taylor Murphy, her brand’s namesake, all in the same year. By then, Alani Taylor (the brand) had become known for its couture formalwear. Her first client was actress Tiffany Hadish, and this year, rapper Alexis Branch wore a custom Alani Taylor gown down the red carpet at the Grammys.
“Everything about the military has molded me into the designer I am,” she said. “Coming into the fashion industry, a lot of
people say they see how I handle things in strategic, tactical ways. I live by my seven Army values every single day.”
Murphy’s next mission is to host the next Zenith Experience fashion show in Atlanta this summer, then open the Zenith House Fashion School by 2023.
Learn more about Timeekah Murphy and her fashion brand, Alani Taylor, by visiting www.AlaniTaylor.com. Follow her on Instagram @imjustmurph.
Airline staffing shortages and higher ticket prices might deter some military families from booking flights to faraway summer destinations in 2022.
But it’s possible to pull off a vacation that feels like stepping into a new world, even if it’s just a few hours from the base. These four summer road trips from major military installations feature routes jampacked with activities that beat sitting on an airplane any day.
Fort Bragg to Gatlinburg, Tennessee
350 miles, a six-hour drive
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in the country for a good reason. The 800-square-mile wilderness has incredible biodiversity and is one of the best places to spot a black bear in the wild. The journey there is half of the fun, as there’s so much to do along the way.
The International Civil Rights Museum is about 90 minutes down the road from Fort Bragg via U.S. Highway 421 North. The museum in Greensboro is centered around the historic Woolworth lunch counter, the location of the famous 1959 sit-in protests. A guided tour and walkthrough will take most people about an hour and a half.
Another 30-minute drive down Interstate 40 West is the Old Salem Museum and Gardens, a living history attraction with costumed actors that tell the story of the Moravian community that first settled in the area in 1766.
Travel on the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway for a meal in downtown Asheville, North Carolina, a thriving mountain city with an eclectic arts scene. The mid-sized city is well-known for its extensive collection of family friendly craft breweries and modern Appalachian dishes.
It’s just two more hours down I-40 West to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, one of the best places to stay when exploring the Great Smoky Mountains. The national park is free to enter, and a must-see stop is Clingmans Dome, the park’s highest point, which features 360-degree views of surrounding mountains in Tennessee and Western North Carolina.
Thrill-seekers can get their hearts pumping at Rowdy Bear Amusement Park, home of the world’s first Mountain Glider, a rollercoaster hybrid that sends riders on an experience through the treetops at high speeds. There’s something for everyone on the Gatlinburg strip, a .8-mile zone filled with museums, attractions and restaurants.
Joint Base Lewis — McChord to Cannon Beach, Oregon 200 miles, four-hour drive
Washington and Oregon have some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. One particular stretch of coastline in Northern Oregon is famous for its appearance in cult-favorite movies like “Point Break,” “The Goonies” and “Twilight.” This short road trip is an ideal romantic getaway or family vacation
as there’s genuinely something unforgettable for people of any age to experience.
Take off down Interstate 5 South for about 90 minutes to reach an excellent option for a pitstop near Aberdeen, Washington, at Bottle Beach State Park, where there’s a .7-mile scenic boardwalk trail famous for its birdwatching.
Jump on U.S. Route 101 South to head toward Cape Disappointment State Park on the Southern Washington Coast. The park is anything but disappointing. It gets its name from its precarious position at the mouth of the Columbia River, where an estimated 2,000 vessels have sunk in dangerous seas. An interpretive center in the park tells the area’s history, including its role in the Lewis and Clark Expedition. There are two historic lighthouses inside the park accessed via breathtaking Pacific Northwest hiking trails.
Travel across the state border to Oregon on the iconic Astoria-Megler Bridge and carve out about an hour for the Oregon Film Museum. The museum is inside a century-old former jailhouse. An interactive space with cameras and movie sets encourages visitors to act and film scenes, and the footage can be later downloaded and transformed into movie masterpieces. The old jail cells are filled with “Goonies” memorabilia.
Cannon Beach is just another 25 miles down the coast. The small resort community centers around Haystack Rock, an impressive 235 feet sea stack. Visitors can walk directly
up to it at low tide and spot sea stars and other tide pool creatures. The beach is a popular place to picnic, fly kites and make sandcastles.
Summer is the perfect season to attempt a surfing lesson or boogie board at Ecola State Park’s Indian Beach, the iconic rocky coastline featured in many Hollywood flicks. The park also has several trails and hike-in campsites.
Cannon Beach is a thriving arts community filled with art galleries, shops, pubs, restaurants and breweries. Icefire Glassworks, a hot shop and glass blowing gallery, allows visitors to watch the glass blowing process in real-time.
An adventure to the wild west
29 Palms to Grand Canyon National Park 350 miles, a six-hour drive
The Grand Canyon is one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Although the route to get there from 29 Palms first appears to be barren desert, many quirky stops along the way can make the drive feel like a breeze.
The Mojave National Preserve has nearly 10,000 years of geological history and is about an hour’s drive from the base. Pack a picnic and plan to stop and enjoy the natural beauty of Boulders Viewpoint Area, which is just a short detour off Amboy Road.
Take Interstate 40 East and Arizona State Route 95 to step back into history into the living ghost town in Oatman, which hosts a daily wild west shootout performed by the Oatman Ghost Rider Gunfighters. The town has several other historical attractions and places to fuel up on food and refreshments.
Drive another hour down Oatman Highway to a budget stop at the Arizona Route 66 Museum. Children under 12 get in free, and tickets for adults are just $4 per person. The
museum usually takes about two hours to get through and features various artifacts from historic Route 66.
A leg of the journey two hours west on I-40 East will put travelers close to Bearizona, a drive-through wildlife park with bears, wolves and bighorn sheep. Visitors can stay in the car for this adventure and view the exotic animals living in their natural environments.
Grand Canyon National Park’s South Rim is located just one hour north of the wildlife attraction. Active-duty military members can get into the park for free. Mather Point is a popular and easily accessible lookout to view the splendor of the 18-mile wide and 4,000-feet deep canyon. Guests can tour the expansive natural area by foot, train, helicopter or bike.
The beach getaway
Fort Hood to Galveston, Texas
250 miles, a four-and-half hour drive
A trip to the beach can be a dream getaway for couples and families stationed in the land-locked region of Texas near Fort Hood. Galveston is one of the oldest cities in the country and has a wide range of activities in addition to the beach.
The first place for a pitstop is about two hours southeast of the base in Lake Somerville. The
parks and beaches are great places to cool down and throw some food on the grill.
Another 90 minutes on the road in the same direction will bring travelers into the Houston area. There are endless pitstop options, but Cockrell Butterfly Center is just a few minutes off the route and is often considered one of the most relaxing places in the city. The threestory simulated rainforest conservatory is built around a 50-foot waterfall surrounded by exotic plants and hundreds of butterflies.
About 30 minutes farther down Interstate 45 North sits the iconic Space Center Houston. The 250,000-square-foot education complex will take several hours to maneuver through and is filled with more than 400 space artifacts, including the world’s largest collection of moon rocks and lunar samples. Visitors can even take a peek behind the scenes at the NASA Johnson Space Center.
Galveston is just another 30 minutes down the road. The city’s 8-mile seawall gives visitors beautiful sunrise and sunset views of the coast and access to the sandy beaches. The Strand, Galveston’s historic city center, is filled with restaurants, shops, nightclubs and museums. The island’s most popular family attraction is Moody Gardens, an amusement park with pyramids housing animal and plant conservation attractions.
Many people have an aversion to pushing the boundaries of physical stress. But for others, it offers challenges that are lifechanging, even life-saving.
“I started out in the military by having to lose 50 pounds just to join, but I never ingrained those life changes required to be not just fit, but healthy as well,” said Air Force Master Sgt. Bryant Lopez-Cepero.
That’s where US Military Endurance Sports (USMES) came in. Lopez-Cepero said the organization, which isn’t affiliated with the U.S. Armed Forces, had a “massive impact” on his fitness.
Mandy Midgett, USMES executive director and Air Force veteran, said that 70% of its members report that the organization has “had an impact on their lives for the better, whether it’s improving their mental health or improving their physical health.”
From cycling to triathlon
USMES began as an elite, 10-person cycling team in 2009 and evolved into a broader sports model.
“As we grew, more triathletes were interested. And … they would see us out having fun cycling,” Midgett said. “And the triathletes really wanted to be a part of it … So it was triathlon first that was brought in, and then we brought in the running portion.”
USMES is represented in all 50 states and seven countries, with members active in 180 installations within 17 USMES regions.
“We’re global … and so we have people as far away as Bahrain, Abu Dhabi. And then, of course, we have people in Japan, Korea, Italy,” Midgett said.
Its mission is to promote endurance sports as a pathway to healthy living, specifically targeting active-duty members and veterans of the U.S. military.
Lopez-Cepero said the sports nonprofit motivated him to embrace fitness as a lifestyle through multi-sport activities.
“I went from the chubby back of the pack, barely passing airman to a consistent front and center leader,” he said.
USMES has 17 regional coordinators who act as facilitators to communicate with members, provide information, plan meetings and gatherings and work with local race directors to furnish incentives for event registrations
and to represent the nonprofit organization.
“It becomes like a whole network of people that you have that are very like-minded,” Midgett said.
As a doctor, Navy Lt. Imelda Muller worked long hours in a hospital and couldn’t participate in regular practices with a training group. She missed being part of a team until a nurse introduced her to USMES.
“Through USMES, I soon discovered that I could regularly train on my own time (sometimes in the middle of the night), while still connecting with athletes who had similar goals,” she said. “USMES also designates team races and training camps throughout the year, which allowed me to grow personal relationships with my teammates and develop skills essential to improving my performance as an athlete.”
Muller became a 2018 IRONMAN champion. Lopez-Cepero said he had exceptional mentors from the outset. His regional community helped him become involved in cycling-related sports and highlighted their transcendence.
“I’ll be forever grateful to my fellow USMES track cyclist Jim Lawrence for talking about and showcasing that there’s more to cycling than just the road,” Lopez-Cepero said.
One of the most rewarding aspects of USMES, according to Muller, is inspiring others to move outside of their comfort zone
and undertake a triathlon or running race.
“There are a lot of moving pieces in triathlons, which can be intimidating for athletes who are interested in the sport but just don’t know how to take that first step,” she said. “I’ve found that simply being on the USMES team has allowed me to connect with these athletes who need just a bit of support … Training, race nutrition or working through the steps involved in transitioning from swim to bike to run.”
According to USMES, 45% of its activeduty athletes believe membership in the organization has impacted their units and companies by encouraging them to adopt and embrace an active lifestyle. Additionally, 75% of USMES members have some form of disability, and 51% currently use endurance sports for rehabilitation from acute injuries.
USMES offers military personnel and veterans a gateway to better physical, mental and emotional health, regardless of physical ability and fitness level.
“We’re here for everybody from the novice to the professional,” Midgett said. “And your endurance could be a 1-mile; it could be 250 miles. Endurance is what you term it to be for you. So, it’s all relative. We want to help you on your journey to get to where you need to go or for whatever you want to do.”
Life insurance may be a contender for the topic couples least like to talk about. But planning ahead for that worst-case scenario is an important way to build a secure financial future for your family.
So, when is the right time to have the life insurance conversation with your spouse?
“Almost any time is the right time,” says Education Presenter and Military Liaison Heather Walrath of Navy Mutual’s Education and Veterans Services team.
The COVID-19 pandemic has served as a life insurance wake-up call for many people, but Walrath maintains the subject should be on every military family’s to-do list.
“I’m a fan of however you get there, it’s good that you got there to have that discussion,”
said Walrath, an accredited financial counselor and military spouse for the past 25 years.
To create distraction-free discussion time, schedule a “money date,” which could include a meal out and a broader conversation about future financial goals.
“Life insurance in general is about continuing all those goals. However, making sure that you have adequate life insurance in place prior to being called on a deployment is key for any military family — just have the conversation prior to the stress of preparing for a deployment and it will make for an easier and more productive conversation. It doesn’t have to be such a heavy topic if you can connect it to fun topics like homebuying, your savings, trip planning and those types of things,” said Walrath, adding she would avoid in-depth financial discussions during emotionally stressful times such as prior to a
deployment or after a loved one’s death.
Active-duty military, as well as some reserve and National Guard members, are eligible for $400,000 in Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) for a $24 monthly premium, while Family Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (FSGLI) can provide a spouse with up to $100,000 of coverage and dependent children with $10,000 each.
Whether that coverage is adequate depends on many factors, including your monthly living expenses, number and age of children, existing debt and savings or other assets. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ “Insurance Needs Calculator” (https://insurance.va.gov/NeedsCalculator) can serve as a guide, but ultimately every family’s needs may be different.
“Are you getting this policy to pay off the
mortgage or to pay the kids’ way through college?” Walrath asked. “Have a conversation about if you’re going to have this money, how is it going to be used?”
Whole and term insurance are the two principal types of life insurance. Term insurance is generally less expensive than whole life because it provides coverage for a specific term — typically 10 to 30 years — and can offer level premiums. In contrast, whole life is considered “permanent” insurance and accrues cash value over your lifetime, but comes with a higher cost because a death benefit is guaranteed.
Because there are many choices when buying life insurance, Walrath recommends getting multiple online quotes before reaching out directly to companies for tailored advice.
“At a minimum, get three different quotes. I would hope Navy Mutual would be one of them. We’re different because we’re a nonprofit organization and we’re a Veterans Service Organization,” she said. “That focus on people before profits is important.”
Most service members will not have difficulty purchasing commercial life insurance, though paratroopers or others with high-risk jobs might see higher premiums.
“If you have a job that is considered riskier by the actuary, that absolutely could come into play,” she said. “It’s also important when you are looking at a policy to make sure they don’t have any military exclusions. Look for militaryfriendly companies when getting your quotes.”
: Even if a spouse is not employed full time, their contributions to child care, housework and family logistics have a monetary value, making a spouse’s policy an important part of a family’s overall financial plan.
Guaranteeing future insurability is another reason for couples to consider buying insurance while young and healthy. Walrath offers her own personal story as an example. She was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease one year after buying term insurance.
“There’s value in getting these policies early,” she said. “I locked it in for 30 years, and I still have it today.”
Upon separation or retirement, service members can convert SGLI to a five-year renewable Veterans’ Group Life Insurance (VGLI) or commercial whole life policy. This provides guaranteed insurability but may be more expensive for healthy individuals than
other policies. Note that to convert to VGLI you have 240 days to do so without medical underwriting but with a commercial whole life policy you only have 120 days to do so without medical underwriting.
Because insurance needs change over time, Walrath suggests couples make a “life insurance check-in” an annual money date topic. They can review policy beneficiaries, confirm their spouse’s final wishes and revisit how insurance proceeds would be used.
While costs are a major consideration when purchasing life insurance, Walrath says families should examine a policy’s internal fees and make note of the insurer’s financial strength (available from Fitch Ratings and AM Best rating service).
Most importantly, she says, “You want to buy life insurance, not have it sold to you. You don’t want to feel pressured.”
To get a fair quote that puts your military family’s needs first, visit Navy Mutual at navymutual.org.
Navy Mutual Aid Association’s Education Team educates servicemembers and their families on matters of financial security and advises them on other federal benefits at no charge. As the Navy’s preferred referral source for Survivor Benefits, Navy Mutual continues to be a trusted source for our nation’s military.
The U.S. Army announced a new directive addressing unique challenges faced by soldiers navigating pregnancy through parenthood.
Grassroot efforts by a Facebook group called Army Mom Life inspired changes that are expected to affect 400,00 parents, according to a press release, like Sgt. Maj. Mark Clark Jr. The current G-1 sergeant major has been both a single parent and part of a dual-military household. He spoke during a press conference about his professional and personal interest in the new policies.
“This will be a huge lift to us as we create opportunities for well-deserving soldiers — who are very talented — to be able to continue to serve as soldiers but also be able to have better opportunities to provide for their families so they can stay within
the Army,” Clark said. “From a personal standpoint, as I too was once a single parent of three children at Fort Irwin, California, … I understand a lot of unique challenges that soldiers in that status endure.”
Clark credits “the right leadership” with enabling him to continue serving while fulfilling his parental responsibilities. He points out that just as his captain and first sergeant at the time had no idea their support was empowering the future Army G-1 sergeant major, this new directive has the potential to do the same for other future talent to climb the ranks.
Army Secretary Christine Wormuth signed the formal policy earlier this year after various stakeholders worked together to understand the needs of parents around the force. Initially, a white paper was generated by Staff Sgt. Nicole Edge, founder of the
Army Mom Life group, who gathered ideas about what changes soldiers wanted to see.
Edge enlisted in 2014 and is a small-group leader for the Basic Leaders Course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. The single mom of two daughters is passionate about helping the Army be more accepting when it comes to mothers serving, according to her bio. She spoke at a press conference in April 2022 about becoming the unintentional face of the campaign.
“I am one of the ones that I like to kind of stay in the background, and I like to be able to do the work without getting the recognition. Some of them [soldiers] have kind of pushed me to the front, but it’s easy for me because I enjoy making sure that the changes come to fruition. I enjoy seeing the impact that it’s going to have on our soldiers, so I would honestly do anything to be able to make sure that these changes get pushed and that the
force is going toward a modern force rather than staying as it is.”
She shared that her group received daily posts from soldiers who were seeing career impacts due to their roles as parents, including being held back from promotions and experiencing the difficulties of being breastfeeding moms. Edge believes the changes will not only improve quality of life, but they will benefit the Army as a whole.
“The Army spends a lot of money on soldiers to train them and to keep them in the force, so I think it’s going to be extremely impactful with retention. … I also think it’s going to be huge for recruitment as well because our civilians are going to see us be able to make the force more modern,” Edge said.
Nepal-native Maj. Sam Winkler served on the working group that wrote the Army directive. She views this collaboration as a remarkable demonstration of how everyday service members can help shape the force when they “come to the table with real solutions.”
“What’s so exciting about this Army directive is that we have created a true feedback group — we have voices that started at the soldier level, that was heard all the way by our Army senior leaders and they listened — and they took charge and they made changes,” Winkler said.
Ms. Army Kramer, a special assistant to Under Secretary of the Army Gabe Camarillo, called the changes “groundbreaking.” She outlined points that characterize the directive:
• Clarifies and makes permanent many existing policies to ensure more equitable application across the Army;
• Introduces new and exciting novel changes to put people first and to better
invest in the health, wellness and longterm readiness of the force;
• Aligns Army policies — existing and new — with medical recommendations, such as convalescence leave recommendations from the Defense Health Agency as well as updated lactation guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics;
• Equitably applies to the extent possible all accommodations and changes to the National Guard and reserves because “we are one Army.”
She added it is a gender neutral policy and accounts for all roles, including fathers, and all new parents, including adoptive parents and guardians of long-term foster children.
The directive includes a mix of new and modified policy changes, such as —
1. The body composition exemption for pregnant and postpartum soldiers increases from 180 days to 365 days, after the conclusion of pregnancy.
2. Soldiers are exempt from taking a record physical fitness test while pregnant and for 365 days after the conclusion of pregnancy.
3. Commanders will provide lactation breaks and a designated lactation area for lactating soldiers, regardless of time after the child’s birth.
The full U.S. Army Parenthood, Pregnancy and Postpartum Directive can be viewed at https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/ DR_a/ARN35255-ARMY_DIR_2022-06000-WEB-1.pdf
“I enjoy seeing the impact that it’s going to have on our soldiers, so I would honestly do anything to be able to make sure that these changes get pushed and that the force is going toward a modern force rather than staying as it is.”
– Staff Sgt. Nicole EdgeStaff Sgt. Nicole Edge pictured with her daughter. Maj. Sam Winkler poses with her two daughters at the 4th Cavalry Brigade, First Army Division East Headquarters at Fort Knox, Kentucky.
Separating from the military after years of service can breed career uncertainty, but recruiters reveal veterans are highly sought after by government agencies and contractors.
“In addition to specific job skill sets, veterans bring a diverse variety of soft skills hiring managers like such as dedication, discipline and teamwork,” said Roseal Fowlkes, Veteran and Disability Employment Program Manager for the Department of Commerce.
According to Fowlkes, one way for transitioning service members to get access to direct government and contractor positions is by working with a recruiter. Fowlkes says the DOC partners with RecruitMilitary and Hire G.I. and recruits from online career boards USAJobs, LinkedIn and Handshake. Contract recruiters are always eager to recruit veterans, and working as a contractor is a foot in the door of a government agency, she said.
Fowlkes also shared resume advice for disabled veterans and those entering transition, including engaging with bureau Selective Placement Program Coordinators, who recruit and hire veterans with disabilities.
“Be honest. Know what you are looking for in your next job and ensure your resume speaks to transferable skillsets,” she said.
Retired Marine Gunnery Sgt. Don Uy manages the Navy C4ISR program for geographic software company Esri, where he has worked as a recruiter.
“Every large company has an HR department recruiter that would love to speak with you and gain insight into how you would best fit that company,” he said. “Go directly to the company you are pursuing. If you have specialized trainings that lend themselves to a certain job, speak to that. I also would tell members to not close doors. Leave them open, even if you have no interest in that job, because new ones come open all the time.”
Retired Air Force Master Sgt. Jeremy Wiles is currently a training analyst for Ellumen, a healthcare/medical IT firm. He said the use of a recruiter is paramount for veterans.
“I was recruited by Ellumen, and think it was a blessing. I wouldn’t have known about this position without them contacting me,” he said.
Wiles also cited his use of LinkedIn for helping to get his resume in front of the right eyes.
Angela Greggs, a 25-year recruiter, the last three with Ellumen, said veterans make stand-out job candidates.
“Veterans exhibit confidence, are excellent communicators, strong on a team and forward-thinking,” she said.
Greggs, who supports Veterans Affairs, Defense Health Agency, U.S. Army Medical Materiel Agency, U.S. Air Force Medical and many others, said she uses LinkedIn most followed by Indeed, ClearanceJobs,
Monster and Dice.
Wiles, Uy and Greggs all agreed that in addition to online job sites, veteran friends and colleagues who have worked with recruiters can be invaluable in helping with transitions. Networking is a staple in every career field, but veterans have a special bond that means helping each other whenever possible, Greggs said.
“Reach out to others who have transitioned and build a network … referrals are my absolute favorite kind of candidate,” she said.
She also noted that service members do not have to wait until they are out of the military to begin networking.
“You can have employment secured before your transition,” she said. “I think most recruiters would welcome an opportunity to connect. Send a message through LinkedIn along with your resume, or use your personal contacts to make a connection.”
“The recruiter can match you with a job that fits your skill base,” said Uy, “instead of just a peg in a hole.”
BY PEYTON H. ROBERTS
When the COVID-19 pandemic began, Army spouse and mom Christina Etchberger was in the middle of her husband’s second deployment and no longer teaching middle school. As the virus and social distancing regulations impacted her community in Lawton, Oklahoma, she noticed many people needed help, including residents of Fort Sill Veterans Center, where she had previously volunteered with her students.
“I knew these veterans centers relied on volunteers. I also knew some of these folks didn’t have family supporting them,” Etchberger said. “I called and asked, ‘How can we help?’”
The answer was simple: Writing cards and letters. Throughout America’s military conflicts, letter writing campaigns have emerged when someone noticed their comrades didn’t have anyone writing or calling. A well-known Dear Abby letter requesting mail for lonely soldiers during the Vietnam era was met with an overwhelming response from the American public.
Following suit, Etchberger founded the nonprofit It’s a Military Life (IML) as a network of support for military spouses, veterans and their families. When rapid COVID-19 spread at veterans homes led to extreme social distancing restrictions, IML launched the Veterans Pen Pal Project (VPPP) to connect community volunteers with isolated veterans.
As both a military brat and Army spouse, Lexie Coppinger was quick to join the effort.
“We realized a lot of these folks were completely locked down and shut away from the world,” she said. “We wanted to reach out and say, ‘We see you. We know you’re still there. We’re thinking about you. We still care about you.’”
Coppinger has witnessed the impact the letters can have as program manager for the Veterans Pen Pal Project.
“It is wild how just one positive card, one positive letter can change the entire well-being of an individual that might be struggling,” she said.
One conversation in particular with a widowed military spouse stood out to Coppinger.
“This woman lives alone. Her husband died almost 20 years ago. She said to me that you have no idea how lonely you are until the only person you talk to is yourself 24/7.”
After receiving a mailbox full of Valentine’s
Day cards from a local preschool, the widow was nearly in tears.
“She said, ‘You have no idea how much these glitter-filled, sticker-covered cards meant to me.’ You could just hear the smile on her face,” Coppinger said.
The VPPP, which is led by volunteers and funded through through private donations, offers two ways to get involved.
1. Those interested in being a pen pal can request a veteran pen pal by signing up on It’s a Military Life’s website.
2. Veterans interested in being paired with a pen pal can also sign up.
Alternately, volunteers can participate in mass card drives, which are organized during holidays such as Valentine’s Day and Christmas. During these large-scale events, the VPPP coordinates with other militaryaffiliated nonprofits to provide addresses to veterans’ centers, assisted living facilities, homeless veterans centers and VA hospitals.
Coppinger estimates the VPPP currently has around 500 volunteers, with many more schools, family readiness groups, active-duty units and civilians participating in mass card drives. Last December, in conjunction with
Operation Holiday Salute, they collected and distributed nearly 50,000 cards.
“It really is a nationwide effort,” Coppinger said. “We build a lot of bridges between the civilian and military communities. If anyone is willing to help out, we link them in.”
As the volunteer coordinator for Deployed Love in Fort Benning, Georgia, Army spouse Kim Clagg thought the VPPP would be a creative way for military spouses and children — including her own — to serve their community.
“If we don’t teach our children now, things like Veterans Pen Pal might not happen in the future,” Clagg said. “My daughter asks a lot of questions, and I’m hoping this is planting the seed to be that support in her community.”
In December, a group of military spouses and children met at a coffee shop and made several dozen cards for Veteran’s Last Patrol, a nonprofit supporting veterans in hospice care.
“Some of these veterans were possibly celebrating their last Christmas,” Clagg said. “It’s sad to know they are alone, but you feel a connection with them because of their military service. Everyone really enjoyed making the cards.”
Clagg emphasized how easy it is for anyone to brighten the day of a veteran by mailing cards and letters.
“This is an open-arms opportunity for everybody, whether you’re military or not,” she said. “The Veterans Pen Pal Project is a great way to help veterans in the community and give them a little cheer and a little love so they know they are not forgotten.”
To learn more, volunteer or donate to the Veterans Pen Pal Project, visit www.itsamilitarylife.org.
Whether you’re PCSing to a new duty station, seeing fresh faces in your neighborhood or meeting up on Zoom, these expert tips from Navy spouse and certified career coach Jacey Eckhart can boost your confidence when introducing yourself to someone new.
Eckhart says the first rule of introducing yourself is to consider who you’re talking to. For military spouses, military affiliation shouldn’t necessarily be the first information shared with new people.
“It is an honorable role. We all know how important it is,” she said. “But it isn’t a role that the world understands. When you introduce
yourself that way, you alienate the world.”
Eckhart says to absolutely share you’re a military spouse when it’s a connection point.
“If you are in a room with other military spouses and you know it’s going to unite the two of you, go ahead and say it,” she said.
Even if you relocate frequently, meeting new people can feel challenging.
“When we move to a new duty station, we feel very vulnerable because we don’t have any connections,” Eckhart said.
After 20 moves, Eckhart recommends simply
beginning with your name.
“Saying your own name should give you some confidence. ‘This is who I am.’ Then say why you’re there,” she suggested.
Especially for introverts, striking up a conversation can feel intimidating. But Eckhart believes it gives you an advantage.
“When you are the person to begin the engagement, that’s a huge position of power because you get to set the tone,” Eckhart said.
A simple way to spark conversation is to have a few basic questions or prompts ready to go, such as ‘Where are you from?’ or ‘What kept
you busy today.’ Eckhart says the weather is always fair game to get people talking.
As a career coach for service members, veterans and spouses, Eckhart recommends anyone searching for work introduce themselves along with stating their job.
“If you’re in a group and it has any hint of networking for work, start with your noun, whatever your job is. ‘I’m Lisa, I’m a project manager.’ Or ‘I’m Rachel, and I’m in IT,’” she said. Leading with your noun helps others know how to connect with you.
“They’re likely going to ask where you work, and you can say, ‘I’m looking for a job right now.’ It all moves you forward,” Eckhart said. “People cannot help you until you give them something to work with.”
Sometimes first conversations lead to exciting new connections. Other times, they can be awkward. In that case, Eckhart says it’s important to skillfully bow out, to which she suggested the following phrasing:
“I have really enjoyed talking to you. You have been so much fun.”
And if all else fails, “I am so thirsty. Do you know where the drinks are?”
If a conversation doesn’t go well, Eckhart advises not to take it personally.
“Because of COVID, we are all out of practice talking to new people,” she said. “People are a little more wary. It’s not you, it’s COVID.”
As an extrovert, Eckhart jokes that talking to new people has never been a struggle.
“Our problem is that when we meet someone, we’re gripping their arm and telling them our whole life story right away,” she said.
Eckhart says that in military communities, oversharing is fairly normal.
“But two-thirds of us live in civilian neighborhoods,” she said. “Out there it’s a little weird.”
Instead, first-time introductions should be fun, general and focused on common ground.
Due to worldwide connectivity online, it’s easier than ever to stay in touch with faraway friends. But Eckhart insists we need friends nearby too.
“Cling to your friends from the past, and then make the resolution that as a spouse you need local friends,” she said. “If nothing else, you need somebody to put on your emergency list to pick your kids up after school.”
Eckhart believes every move is an opportunity to be part of a new community.
“I want you to own your space and [know] that you do belong here, and you’re here to contribute,” she said. “Resolve that you are going to be part of this community too.”
Jacey Eckhart is a mentor with AMPLIFY, Hiring Our Heroes’ intensive career preparation program for military spouses. For more information visit www.hiringourheroes.org.
BY ELENA FERRARIN
Their stories are unusual: young women, fresh out of college, who wanted to help the troops and ended up on the ground during the Vietnam War, with little training and no military experience.
Affectionately known as “Donut Dollies” and clad in baby blue uniforms, their mission was to boost morale by providing entertainment and a friendly, supportive ear as part of a little-known program offered by the American Red Cross.
“This was a small group of amazing, courageous women who felt called to volunteer and risk their lives to help people and for their country,” said Norm Anderson, whose mother was a Dollie and who directed the 2019 documentary “The Donut Dollies.”
“They came from different backgrounds, they had different motivations, but there was a real generosity and bravery that came throughout,” he said.
In all, 627 women served as Donut Dollies during the Vietnam War. The moniker derived from the Red Cross volunteers who gave donuts to soldiers in previous wars. The women got a two-week introductory training in Washington, D.C., followed by two weeks of training in Saigon before being assigned to 17 bases throughout South Vietnam.
The Dollies provided “programming” for the soldiers — picture games, trivia, magic tricks, songs on the guitar and more — on home and frontline bases, which they reached by Jeep, truck or helicopter. They visited injured soldiers, delivered mail and goodie bags and helped out in the mess hall.
The entertainment was often silly and made up on the spot, but very much welcomed by the service members, said Linda Sullivan Schulte, 75, of Delaware, who served as a Dollie from 1968 to 1969.
“We wanted to remind them of home and have some fun with it,” she said.
There were lots of laughs, but the work was also serious, said Dorset Anderson, 77, of Massachusetts. She, too, served as a Dollie from 1968 to 1969.
“There were times when the soldiers were homesick … and we wanted to understand what they needed and how we could help them,” she said. “We had to make sure we knew what we were doing.”
There were nerve-wracking times, like when enemy planes flew low overhead at night and missiles hit the ground nearby. Often, people had to take shelter in bunkers.
Once, bullets whizzed by, Sullivan Schulte recalled. Another time, someone threw a shirt over her for protection during a tear gas attack.
And yet, “I was 21 and I was too stupid to be scared,” Sullivan Schulte said. “You feel immortal at that age.”
Three Dollies died in Vietnam: one as a result of a medical condition, one after a fall from a Jeep and one after being stabbed to death in her room.
While most Dollies reported having positive experiences, some were victims of sexual harassment and sexual assault in Vietnam, Norm Anderson said. Dorset Anderson said she knew of one Dollie who was raped.
The Dollies witnessed death and injury firsthand, which took an emotional toll they didn’t much discuss or even acknowledge, Norm Anderson said.
“They absorbed all the stories from the guys, they made friends with them. Then, (the soldiers) might not come back the next day, or they might be horribly disfigured,” he said. “And during all of it, the Dollies were told to put on a happy face.”
There were indeed painful times, but it was all part of what they signed up for, said Dorset Anderson.
“It was one of the better things I could have ever done in my whole life,” she said.
“It was an amazing, life-altering experience in a lot of ways,” agreed Sullivan Schulte.
Finding similar satisfaction in everyday jobs back home wasn’t easy for many of the Dollies, Sullivan Schulte said. She was lucky to get a position recruiting for the Red Cross, which led to a 40-year career in marketing.
Dorset Anderson held a variety of jobs, including in banking, mail order, summer stock theater and house cleaning. She often used the same “de facto therapist” skills in her work as she did in Vietnam, her son said.
Norm Anderson’s documentary includes scenes shot in Vietnam and interviews with Vietnam War veterans. Four decades later, it was heartwarming to watch them interact with the Dollies, the director said.
“(The Dollies) had the same love for the guys and the same desire to listen to them and support them,” he said. “That was lovely to see. You really get a sense for what a difference it could really make in a guy’s life.”
For the latest on the Donut Dollies and to purchase the documentary, visit DonutDollies.com.
BY MELISSA M. STEWART
After 15 years at the helm of United Through Reading, CEO Sally Ann Zoll, an Army spouse and mother, retires this month. During her time connecting deployed service members with their families through reading, she was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor Society’s inaugural Community Service Hero Award and the American Prize of the Library of Congress Literacy Awards Program. We were honored to talk with her about her transition.
How did you know it was time to move on from your role?
I’d actually been thinking about it for a couple of years, and then COVID, and the timing just wasn’t right. I will tell you, I have mixed feelings about it. This is really bittersweet, because I just love, love, love this organization. I am so blessed to have been a part of it for over 15 years. I wake up every morning so excited to do the work that we do. It’s just really been an honor and a blessing to serve our military families.
Can you talk about one of the most memorable moments you had in your career with UTR?
The amazing stories that we get back from our military families every single day, and I mean, there are hundreds of thousands of them. Those stories will always and forever remain in my heart.
Have there been any challenges along the way?
Half of our staff was in all places around the country. We started having virtual employees in 2009. And so, we really started talking about how to include all the people who weren’t around the table, and I finally said, ‘Why shouldn’t we all be virtual?’ So, we were way ahead of the game from that perspective when COVID hit.
What’s next?
I don’t know. We love to travel, but we also love our home in Coronado. We’d love to spend
time with our family. We are very blessed that our children and grandchildren all live within 20 minutes of us. I love to garden, I love to read, I love our community. I’m not worried about it. I feel very confident that organically it will fall into place.
Do you have a particular favorite children’s book?
“Goodnight Moon.”
For more on how United Through Reading has helped military families, visit https://militaryfamilies.com/ military-kid/this-mobile-story-station-connects-militaryfamilies-through-virtual-storytime/.
