2018 Heroes at Home Hampton Roads

FLAGSHIPNEWS.COM | MILITARYNEWS.COM | 14TH EDITION

HONORING OUR UNSUNG HEROES FOR THEIR STRENGTH, MANY SACRIFICES AND COMMITMENT TO OUR HAMTON ROADS COMMUNITY.

PRESENTED BY

HONORING OUR UNSUNG HEROES FOR THEIR STRENGTH, MANY SACRIFICES AND COMMITMENT TO OUR HAMPTON ROADS COMMUNITY.

FLAGSHIPNEWS.COM | MILITARYNEWS.COM | 14TH EDITION

Military Spouses are Strong.

LINCOLNMILITARY.COM 2 | HEROES at HOME | MAY 2018

BY NICOLE ALVARADO

Former active-duty U.S. Navy spouse (and current veteran spouse), Nicole Alvarado is the editor of MilitaryNews.com.

MNV

MILITARY NEWSPAPERS O F V IRG I N I A

Published by Military Newspapers of Virginia 150 W. Brambleton Ave. Norfolk, VA 23510

Phone: (757) 222-3990 | Fax: (757) 853-1634 | Advertising (757) 222-3990 sales@militarynews.com | militarynews.com The contents of this special section are not necessarily the official views of or endorsed by the U.S. government, the DoD, the DoT or the U.S. Coast Guard. Opinions of contributing writers do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Military Newspapers of Virginia or The Flagship®. The availability of these newspapers and the appearance of advertising in these publications, including any inserts or supplements, do not constitute endorsement by the federal government, the DoD, the DoT, the U.S. Coast Guard or Military Newspapers of Virginia of products or services advertised. Military Newspapers of Virginia is a private firm in no way connected to the Department of Defense or United States Coast Guard.

3 | HEROES at HOME | MAY 2018

MNV MILITARY SALES MANAGER Pam Bullock MNV EDITOR/GRAPHIC DESIGNER Mike Doyle PHOTOGRAPHER Harry Gerwien EVENT SALES MANAGER Amie Holman ART DIRECTOR Allyson Garner

Spouse of Maj. Aaron Harless, 53rd Movement Control Battalion/7th Transportation Brigade, Fort Eustis YEARS AS MILITARY SPOUSE: 12.5 NUMBER OF DEPLOYMENTS: 4 NUMBER OF PCS MOVES: 8 AREA OF FOCUS FOR 2018: Q Bringing awareness and change to the current SGLI benefits available for children. “Specifically to stillborn babies and the very specific requirements that must be met for the benefits, and to link families to the resources available.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

United Concordia Congratulates our “Heroes at Home” Proud sponsor of the 2018 Military Spouse Awards

4 | HEROES at HOME | MAY 2018

LIFE AS A MILITARY SPOUSE:

In short – “crazy, chaotic, but oh so exciting and rewarding! We married shortly after my husband commissioned as college sweethearts. After serving 4 years myself, I got out to be a mom and raise our 3 wonderful children. I love each new adventure that the military sends us on from living in the middle of the country to the south to right on the coast! I have met so many amazing people, and had some of the most amazing experiences that I wouldn’t trade this life for anything!

FAVORITE (OR MOST INTERESTING) DUTY STATION:

Fort Leavenworth, KS. “I loved the small town living and being next to the big city.

The location puts you so close to many things to see and do. Not only that, but I met so many of my best Army Spouse Friends there! The community you make at the CGSC Schoolhouse is unlike any other!

HOW DO YOU BALANCE FAMILY/ WORK/MILITARY LIFE?

My Village of course. I strongly believe that

everyone needs to have a village no matter how big or small it may be. Everyone needs to have those people that you can call during deployment at 3am to come sleep on our couch so you don’t have to drag every one to the ER, the ones who can step out and get a child off the bus when you get caught in traffic, and the ones who show up like family and drag you out for some fun! Also, having a good strong marriage, and a very supportive husband helps to make things easier too!

WHAT DO YOU DO TO SUPPORT OTHER MILITARY SPOUSES/ FAMILIES?

I always jump in where I am needed, regardless of what it may be. I love supporting families through being a doula with Stars and Stripes Doulas, as families go through some of their most exciting and precious times. I am heavily involved in our battalion and brigade level Family Readiness Group programs, the Fort Eustis PWOC (Protestant Women of the Chapel), Spouse Clubs, and being there when needed. I’ve helped military families load their Uhaul when preparing for a DITY move, delivering

food when the flu strikes on deployment, and helping families get linked up with the resources they need.

VOLUNTEER SERVICE HIGHLIGHTS Q Q Q Q

Q Q Q Q Q Q

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Spouse of MCC Mark Leinaar, Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), Norfolk NAVSTA YEARS AS MILITARY SPOUSE: 9 NUMBER OF DEPLOYMENTS: 3 NUMBER OF PCS MOVES: 2 AREA OF FOCUS FOR 2017: Q Being more positive. We need alot more positivity in the world. And along with that will come understanding and compassion.

- Uknown

LIFE AS A MILITARY SPOUSE:

I am a 43 year old mother of 6 and a proud Nana of 6. I grew up in the Army lifestyle and now proudly serve as a Navy Spouse. I truly feel I have the best job in the world. Being a mom to Michelle, Ryan, Lawrence, Autumn, Haileigh and Malachi is not always easy and I make mistakes but it’s rewarding.

Then there is my sailor whom I support 110%. I get so emotional knowing he is one of many that puts his life on the line for me and my family. The military lifestyle has so many opportunities to offer and I am blessed to enjoy those opportunities and so much more.

FAVORITE (OR MOST INTERESTING) DUTY STATION:

I can’t choose just one because they all have special meaning. But the weather and people in Florida made it absolutely amazing.

WHAT IS THE BEST PART ABOUT BEING IN A MILITARY FAMILY?

ombudsman team. I want spouses/ families to know I will do whatever it takes to help them. I have went as far as meeting new families and taking them to get housing, doctor appointments, planned events to keep our families motivated during deployments, and sometimes just letting them vent when things are crazy.

HOW DO YOU BALANCE FAMILY/ WORK/MILITARY LIFE?

VOLUNTEER SERVICE HIGHLIGHTS

I enjoy moving, meeting new people, exploring, and helping others. I get to watch my sailor do something that makes him absolutely happy. He will tell you “it’s not a job, it’s my life.” He is our hero everyday. It brings us joy to know he is protecting us all.

Honestly I have a routine that follow whether my sailor is home or not. I get involved in outside events like volunteering, sports, FRG, PTA. I try to stay busy and focus on the end result.

WHAT DO YOU DO TO SUPPORT OTHER MILITARY SPOUSES/ FAMILIES?

I served on the FRG board and recently was asked to join the 6 | HEROES at HOME | MAY 2018

Q Q

Q Q Q

Spouse of AC Joseph Mercer, USS Abraham Lincoln, Norfolk NAVSTA YEARS AS MILITARY SPOUSE: 3 NUMBER OF DEPLOYMENTS: 1 NUMBER OF PCS MOVES: 2 AREA OF FOCUS FOR 2017: Q I would like to focus on mentorship. I want to be able to encourage other spouses and their families to reach out to one another and pay forward with their individual gifts, talents and knowledge. This goes beyond unemployment and under employment that military spouses face, but finding something that you are passionate about.

- Maya Angelou

LIFE AS A MILITARY SPOUSE:

My husband had been in the Navy for 9 years when we started dating and I have been on this journey with him as a girlfriend, then fiance and now spouse for the past 6 years. It’s certainly been a crazy ride, but it’s one that I wouldn’t change for the world.

FAVORITE (OR MOST INTERESTING) DUTY STATION:

Pensacola, Florida. This is where we spent our first few years of marriage and we made amazing memories and life long friends while we were stationed here.

WHAT IS THE BEST PART ABOUT BEING IN A MILITARY FAMILY?

I am proud to be a military spouse because we, as a family, are a part of something bigger than ourselves. You feel a crazy sense of patriotism that creeps in during everyday moments and you remember what our men and women in uniform are doing for the rest of us at home.

HOW DO YOU BALANCE FAMILY/ WORK/MILITARY LIFE?

It’s not always easy, but we make it work by always finding at least a few minutes that we can sit down and talk about our respective days. Whether it is as soon as one of us gets home from work or right before bed, or through a good night email when sea duty and deployments call. Knowing that you have that support from your spouse, no matter where in the world they are, is sometimes all you need to keep on trucking!

WHAT DO YOU DO TO SUPPORT OTHER MILITARY SPOUSES/ FAMILIES?

“Both my volunteer work and professional life involves helping military members and their families, which I love. My work with Dogs on Deployment has given me the opportunity to meet so many amazing people and pets! Helping our service members to find homes for their pets before they deploy or helping them with a vet bill they may not have been able to afford is truly an amazing feeling. My husband and I have boarded another military member’s pet and 7 | HEROES at HOME | MAY 2018

seeing the joy in his face and the excitement from the dog when they were reunited - it brings out all the feels!

In my professional life, I am the Marketing Strategy and Communication Manager for the Navy Exchange. Being able to work for a company that understands the military and military life is simply amazing. And I know what I am doing each day is making a difference in the lives of our service men and women.

And let’s be real, I love to cook so for me there is a never a house too small to host a full blown holiday meal for not only for my family, but all the single sailors who don’t have family nearby. “

VOLUNTEER SERVICE HIGHLIGHTS Q

Q

Q

Spouse of SSG Brian Merritt, Recruiting & Retention Battalion, Fort Eustis YEARS AS MILITARY SPOUSE: 10 NUMBER OF DEPLOYMENTS: 2 NUMBER OF PCS MOVES: 2 AREA OF FOCUS FOR 2018: Q I am currently expecting our fourth child and we are extremely excited about that! So a lot of focus is on welcoming this new life and incorporating her into our loving family. During this time we never skip a beat. We are all still highly involved in our careers, education, faith and volunteer service. I will always continue supporting my husband and take care of our family as he is advancing in his military career. I will continue my own career and volunteer service while learning a new balance and supporting the needs of my children and teaching them to be great citizens in this world.

LIFE AS A MILITARY SPOUSE:

I am from an military family. My father is retired Navy, my brother is an officer in the US Army. So I have always known the military and have now experienced it as a military child, a military sibling and now my most important and active role as a military spouse.

I have always stood strong behind my husbands choice to serve. I recognize the sacrifices required of him, myself, and our children for his service. I also recognize that choice is his and mine and we have to support the things our children go through for our choices. I believe in raising strong resilient children that also understand the importance of his service and are active citizens themselves.

I believe in the importance of a strong, capable and ready military and the importance of having a prepared family who supports this for all who serve. Military life is a family centerpiece for us. We are all involved in many different aspects of volunteer service and support programs. I enjoy every piece.

FAVORITE (OR MOST INTERESTING) DUTY STATION:

Our current station. It is where we have grown the most as a military family and it is where I began my career with military families.

WHAT IS THE BEST PART ABOUT BEING IN A MILITARY FAMILY?

The sense of family. Not just our immediate family, the entire military family.

You are a part of something bigger than yourselves. From unit members to members we haven’t met yet. There is a connection amongst us all. The sense of cohesion and pride is unmatched in any other profession.

HOW DO YOU BALANCE FAMILY/ WORK/MILITARY LIFE?

I see each of our roles as an important piece to our life puzzle. I work hard personally, I support my husband and his coworkers, encourage my children and my friends, and I teach my children to have active roles in our family and their community. When we see the importance 8 | HEROES at HOME | MAY 2018

in each other we respect one another and share as a family in our experiences and our challenges. It then creates its own beautiful balance. We all carry our responsibilities, and challenges but we never have to carry them alone. Being a military family has taught us hard work, resiliency, pride and the importance of our love for one another.

It has truly brought us closer. The balance of family, work and military life comes with our compassion and respect for each other.

VOLUNTEER SERVICE HIGHLIGHTS Q Q Q Q Q Q Q

Q

Spouse of AO-1 Tonia Devine, Naval Consolidated Brig Chesapeake, NSA Northwest Annex YEARS AS MILITARY SPOUSE: 8 NUMBER OF DEPLOYMENTS: 2 NUMBER OF PCS MOVES: 0 AREA OF FOCUS FOR 2018: Q Working on family ties and catching up on time missed while Tonia was gone.

- Steve Jobs

LIFE AS A MILITARY SPOUSE:

Tonia was in the military for 6 years when we met. From day one, I could see the camaraderie she had with her fellow service-members. You could tell she had developed lifelong friends that would help us out whenever we needed it.

FAVORITE (OR MOST INTERESTING) DUTY STATION:

VFA-213 was my favorite duty station. Being a new dad, new to a sea command and my wife deploying for the first time, I learned first hand the sacrifice and how to lean on the FRG for advice. I learned I wasn’t alone and that I did have a military family available to help out.

WHAT IS THE BEST PART ABOUT BEING IN A MILITARY FAMILY?

It is knowing your family stands for something. Our military makes sacrifices everyday to keep this great nation and world safe. Being part of that community makes us feel a great

pride. It helps teach our kids how to make sacrifices and feel grateful for what they have.

HOW DO YOU BALANCE FAMILY/ WORK/MILITARY LIFE?

Just like cooking, you need to find thee right proportions for the ingredients forr the recipe to come out right. I would likee to say everyday is a piece of cake, but ut thatʼs not the case. You eventuallyy find your routine, by working through h different mixes, with the main part rt being your family.

WHAT DO YOU DO TO SUPPORT OTHER MILITARY SPOUSES/ FAMILIES?

Being there for them as they are forr me. Kids are such a big role in ourr lives. Being able to help each otherr with watching kids, entertaining kidss or simply giving each other time to o catch up on daily chores without thee chaos.

9 | HEROES at HOME | MAY 2018

VOLUNTEER SERVICE HIGHLIGHTS Q

Spouse of Hospital Corspman Scott Peterson, E-6, USS Mesa Verde YEARS AS MILITARY SPOUSE: 17 NUMBER OF DEPLOYMENTS: 8 NUMBER OF PCS MOVES: 6 AREA OF FOCUS FOR 2018: Q I was recently selected by my husbands Command to be their Ombudman for the USS Mesa Verde. This is my first time being a command ombudman and I’m super excited for this new journey. My focus for 2018 is to be the best ombudman I can for the families and sailors.

- Unknown

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Photo Courtesy of the Department of Defense

LIFE AS A MILITARY SPOUSE:

I am a proud Navy wife of 17 years. I married my high school sweetheart and we have 2 beautiful kids. I enjoy health/fitness and cooking. Being a military spouse is an honor and I wouldn’t change it for the world.

FAVORITE (OR MOST INTERESTING) DUTY STATION:

I always try to make the best of where I am at each duty station so it’s difficilt to pick a favorite. If I had to pick it would be Japan.

I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to live there for 3 years. The Japanese people, culture and food is amazing. I got to see and do some really neat things like climbing to the top of Mount Fuji, seeing a sumo wrestling match and experience a Japanese baseball game.

WHAT IS THE BEST PART ABOUT BEING IN A MILITARY FAMILY?

The best part of being in a military family is you get to see the world.

You get to live in amazing places and meet new people.

HOW DO YOU BALANCE FAMILY/WORK/MILITARY LIFE?

I take it one day at a time and try not to get overwhelmed. I leave work at work and always make time for family. We also have a schedule and routine down pat.

WHAT DO YOU DO TO SUPPORT OTHER MILITARY SPOUSES/FAMILIES?

I have a huge passion for helping other military spouses where there is need. And I love to mentor younger spouses because I got married at the young age of 19 and I remember how many questions I had about the military life. By doing this I always get involved with my husbands command to volunteer with taking on the roll as Family Readiness Group President.

VOLUNTEER SERVICE HIGHLIGHTS Q Q 11 | HEROES at HOME | MAY 2018

Spouse of CDR Christopher Swanson, O-5, NAS Oceana YEARS AS MILITARY SPOUSE: 18 NUMBER OF DEPLOYMENTS: 10 NUMBER OF PCS MOVES: 2 AREA OF FOCUS FOR 2018: Q To continue to fundraise for the VAW-VRC Memorial & Merit Scholarship Fund. To keep it prosperous so it will continue to provide for the VAW-VRC Aviation community.

- Unknown

LIFE AS A MILITARY SPOUSE:

I met my husband in college when he was a NROTC student. I was a mental health/human development counseling student. The military lifestyle is all we know. I didn’t come from a military family, so I had no idea what it entailed... the traditions, military orders, moving and deployments. It was all new to me!

Our very first set of orders was to Japan.

I didn’t know what to do. I was a brand new military spouse, in Japan, and my husband was leaving in a few days for deployment. I was in a squadron with other spouses who had been in my shoes.

They took me under their wing and taught me the ins and outs of military life, especially life overseas. I learned so much from these spouses. I was so grateful for them. As I became a more “seasoned” military spouse, I made sure to return the favor to younger spouses I met at new squadrons. No one should feel alone in the military community. My counseling background helped me to cope with the military lifestyle and helped me to teach other military spouses to cope as well.

FAVORITE (OR MOST INTERESTING) DUTY STATION:

NAS Atsugi, Japan! It was so awesome to live in a foreign country for 3 years and really learn the culture and live like a local! The Japanese people are gracious and want to teach you about their culture and I just soaked it up! I also enjoyed the opportunity to travel all over Asia and learn as much as I could!

WHAT IS THE BEST PART ABOUT BEING IN A MILITARY FAMILY?

Resiliency! My children and I have learned that schedules change, often!

We have learned to go with the flow and to except the changes that come with Military life. And we love the friends we have made along the way! So many friends from so many places!

HOW DO YOU BALANCE FAMILY/ WORK/MILITARY LIFE?

There are a lot of moving parts and juggling on a daily basis! I take our schedule day by day and rely on friends 12 | HEROES at HOME | MAY 2018

and carpools! During deployments, I can only look at it in small chunks or else it becomes very overwhelming.

WHAT DO YOU DO TO SUPPORT OTHER MILITARY SPOUSES/ FAMILIES?

Meals and childcare! When you live far from family, your Military friends become your family. I try to make dinner and watch my friends’ children to support them through a deployment! It’s little things like this that Military spouses appreciate! I have received a lot of support from friends through deployments and I try to pay it forward!

VOLUNTEER SERVICE HIGHLIGHTS Q

Q

Spouse of CW2 Duran Sword, Marine Forces Command, Norfolk NASTA YEARS AS MILITARY SPOUSE: 13 NUMBER OF DEPLOYMENTS: 0 NUMBER OF PCS MOVES: 5 AREA OF FOCUS FOR 2018: Q In 2018 I plan to focus on connecting spouses in my husband’s command.

- Proverbs 3:5-6

LIFE AS A MILITARY SPOUSE:

I am a stay at home mom of 2 children. My husband and I are originally from Ohio. We’ve been stationed on both east and west coast.

We’ve been stationed 3 hours from home, in Indiana. We’ve traveled as much as possible at each duty station.

We try to experience as much of the world as possible!

FAVORITE (OR MOST INTERESTING) DUTY STATION:

HOW DO YOU BALANCE FAMILY/ WORK/MILITARY LIFE?

I balance family, volunteering and military life with God.

WHAT DO YOU DO TO SUPPORT OTHER MILITARY SPOUSES/ FAMILIES?

I volunteer with the Family Readiness Program to help other spouses/families.

My favorite duty station was 29 Palms, everyone was like family out there! Everyone knew everyone and the base provided so much for the military member and their families.

WHAT IS THE BEST PART ABOUT BEING IN A MILITARY FAMILY?

The best part of being a military family is experiencing the world!

13 | HEROES at HOME | MAY 2018

VOLUNTEER SERVICE HIGHLIGHTS Q

Q Q Q Q Q

Spouse of LCDR Megan Shutka, O-4, Suffolk DoD Complex YEARS AS MILITARY SPOUSE: 3 NUMBER OF DEPLOYMENTS: 2 NUMBER OF PCS MOVES: 2 AREA OF FOCUS FOR 2018: Q Preparing for an upcoming sea duty period and become engaged in the next duty station’s FRG.

- Arthur Ashe

LIFE AS A MILITARY SPOUSE:

I served 8.5 years active duty in the U.S. Navy prior to becoming a military spouse. As a military spouse, I supported my wife during her tour at the Pentagon with long work days where I was involved with TAPS over

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14 | HEROES at HOME | MAY 2018

Memorial Day Weekend, Wreaths Across America at Arlington National Cemetery and endlessly supported her command’s MWR with fundraising events while I was enrolled as a full time undergraduate student at UMUC. Upon my wife transferring to Naval Information Forces, I cared for three children while my wife served on various TAD assignments and supported numerous command sponsored Wounded Warrior events at Portsmouth Naval Hospital. I also love the Christmas parties we have hosted over the years in which we ask guests to bring an unwrapped gift for the annaul Toys for Tots drive.

FAVORITE (OR MOST INTERESTING) DUTY STATION:

I enjoyed the Pentagon because of the many people my wife introduced me to.

I remember meeting Admiral Michelle Howard in the Navy Exchange at Fort Myer while assisting my wife shopping for uniforms. It was truly an honor to have met her knowing all the accomplishments she has achieved in the U.S. Navy. I also enjoyed accidentally running into my great leaders and mentors that helped me in the past

throughout my military career.

WHAT IS THE BEST PART ABOUT BEING IN A MILITARY FAMILY?

I love being in a military family for all the support I am able to offer other service members who are in need, whether it’s resources like phone numbers or agencies to help them. As a prior service member, I can now see the challenges from both sides as a sponsor and a spouse and learned to greatly appreciate the value of team work it takes to sucessfully run a military family. I am also really grateful for the many wonderful people my wife works with whom I have been fortunate enough to meet over the years.

HOW DO YOU BALANCE FAMILY/ WORK/MILITARY LIFE?

I learned to balance family, work and military life by putting family first always.

Given my wife’s busy work schedule, I always put our children’s needs ahead of my own in order to provide them with consistency.

My wife and I made a joint decision it was best for me to be home with our children in their early years after I graduated college,

despite multiple offers for great careers. Our children will only be young once and at least one of us will always be there through their early milestones as my wife faithfully serves our nation in any capacity.

WHAT DO YOU DO TO SUPPORT OTHER MILITARY SPOUSES/ FAMILIES?

While other service members are deployed, I have assisted my wife in cooking meals for the spouses when they are sick, facilitated transportation when they are unable to drive themselves and opened my home to spouses and their children not only during the holidays to enjoy a home cooked meal with family and friends so they are not alone but throughout the year. I have also provided experience and endless resources to spouses in need.

VOLUNTEER SERVICE HIGHLIGHTS Q Q Q

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Spouse of E7 Daniel Watts Jr., VFA-32, NAS Oceana YEARS AS MILITARY SPOUSE: 9 NUMBER OF DEPLOYMENTS: 2 NUMBER OF PCS MOVES: 0 AREA OF FOCUS FOR 2018: Q I plan to go back to college to work on my bachelors degree in accounting. I have also been looking into volunteering with the Navy Marine Corp Relief Society.

Life’s too short to wake up with regrets. So love the people who treat you right, forgive the ones who don’t and believe that everything happens for a reason. If you get a chance, take it. If it changes your life, let it. Nobody said it’d be easy, they just promised it would be worth it.”

- Dr. Seuss

LIFE AS A MILITARY SPOUSE:

My father, Timothy McAdoo, was enlisted in the Air Force in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Between 1986 and 2000, when he retired, we moved 4 times, I had seen 3 different elementary schools, 1 middle, and he retired to Colorado right before I started High School. I met my husband while in high school, we began seeing each other in June of 2007; he was already enlisted in the Navy, and deployed shortly after we began dating.

We married November 1, 2008 and I moved to join him in Virginia Beach February of 2009. In 2009 I worked towards getting my certificate in the field of Medical assisting and shortly after I worked in a lab collecting samples to be tested and shipping off plasma to be manufactured into medication. We’ll be married for 10 years come November, we’ve been through 2 deployments and several detachments/separations. Growing up in the military and now being a military spouse I have gotten to experience both sides of the complicated life of the military that of being a military child and a spouse.

I volunteer as much as I do with the FRG, PTA/ Elementary School, and Girl Scouts because I have the ability to relate with what

military families experience.

HOW DO YOU BALANCE FAMILY/ WORK/MILITARY LIFE?

Balance never comes easily for anyone especially when you throw military life into the equation and the person you rely on for help won’t be around for 6-8 months. I balance as best as I can with strict schedules and organizing everything in order of importance. More times than not two events happen on the same day and you have to decide on which to attend and which to miss. It’s letting people know up front that things could change at the drop of a hat, while sometimes it’s jumping from one thing to the next without having time to catch your breath. I’ve had to learn the hard way not to beat myself up when something slips through the cracks, which unfortunately is unpreventable. I make sure to make it to everything I can and when my spouse is unavailable it’s taking pictures or videos so he can experience it too. I’ve learned that’s it’s okay to need help every now and then, and that most friends don’t mind lending a hand especially when life seems especially crazy.

WHAT DO YOU DO TO SUPPORT OTHER MILITARY SPOUSES/ FAMILIES?

I volunteer in my community when I can. My time at the Langley Airman and Family Readiness Center (A&FRC) has opened a lot of opportunities to make a difference. Working on projects to help deployed families is the most gratifying.

VOLUNTEER SERVICE HIGHLIGHTS

Q Girl Scouts - Troop Leader, 2012-present Q Girl Scouts - School Liaison, volunteer coordinator, recruitment chair, 2014-present Q Volunteer Hampton Roads - volunteer family volunteer day, 2013-present Q VFA - 213 FRG Vice President, 2014-2015 Q VFA-213 FRG President, 2015-December 2017 Q Holland Elementary School PTA Treasurer, 2016 - present Q Holland Elementary School title 1 Representative, 2017-present Q Hampton Roads CORE - Volunteer, January 2018- present

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Join us in honoring all of this years nominees for their strengths, their sacriďŹ ces and their commitment to our community.

The Heroes at Home Military finalists and Spouse of the Year were chosen from the nominees below, whose nominations were provided by active duty personnel from all branches of the military, spouse support groups, charitable organizations, friends and family.

Alicia Jones | Navy

Harold Adams | Navy

Leticia Reed | Navy

Allison Mercer | Navy

Heidi Adkins | Navy

Lindsay S. Maldonado | Natl.

Angela Perea | Navy

Jackie Kirkman | Army

Guard (Res.)

Angela Sword | Marine Corps

Jennifer K. Weech | Navy

Mary Moses Powell | Navy

Audrey McClune | Navy

Jennifer Leinaar | Air Force

Megan Glomski | Navy

Bessie Ostrander | Navy

Jessica Burling | Navy

Megan Harless | Army

Bonnie J. Rue Schneider | Navy

Jessica Dempsey | Navy

Melissa Calvin | Navy

Brad Milliken | Navy

Johanna Denise Hernandez | Army

Nikki James Zellner | Navy

Carmen Manuel | Navy

Jose Contreras | Air Force

Raegen Dotson | Navy

Carol Atkinson | Navy

Josef Vlk | Navy

Rebecce Kennemore | Navy

Carrie Kolba-Ogle | Air Force

Julie Swanson | Navy

Samantha Harper | Marine Corps

Catherine Mcnear | Army

Kara Comly | Navy

Shane St.Louis | Navy

Dana Key | Army

Karen Vezina | Navy

Shannon Brown | Navy

Daniel Mugan Jr. | Navy

Kathleen Rogers | Navy

Sierra Gold | Navy

Dawn Muscolo | Coast Guard

Katie Streeter | Navy

Teresa Merritt | Natl. Guard (Res.)

Elizabeth Scotto | Navy

Kayla Charles | Navy

Tracie Harsch | Navy

Emily Pratt | Navy

Kim DiBernardo | Navy

Tracy Brown | Navy

Erica Goodell | Army

Kimberly Wilkerson | Navy

Vanessa B. Watts | Navy

Erica McMannes | Army

Lauren Peterson | Navy

Vanessa Smeltzer | Air Force

Hallie Shields | Navy

Leah Vallandingham | Navy 18 | HEROES at HOME | MAY 2018

Exclusive Military Savings Over 40% Purchase tickets at MWR Tickets & Tours Office

Upcoming Events

May 26 – 28

June 30 – July 4

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USAA.COM or 800-531-8521 No Federal endorsement of sponsor is intended. Membership eligibility and product restrictions apply and are subject to change. USAA means United Services Automobile Association and its affiliates. ©2017 USAA. 242217-0517-G

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