November is Military Family Month—a time to celebrate local
service members and their loved ones, who greatly enrich the San Diego community. Whether they’re serving those in need, raising great kids, or building relationships that matter, let’s take a moment to recognize the military-connected individuals who make our neighborhoods better.
Photo credit: www.AlfonzoPhotos.com
Spotlight on Navy Families
Anne Malinoski
The Sanders Family (l–r): Keevon, Krislyn, Leonie, K.D., Kambria, Karrey Jr.
The Sanders Family: Finding Community Leonie Sanders has relocated many times to support her spouse’s Navy career. Still, she considers San Diego home. There’s something special about the food here and she loves that her four kids can experience life in a major city while enjoying family-friendly vibes in surrounding neighborhoods. Most importantly, San Diego is where she met her husband, Capt. K.D. Sanders, who is currently serving as commander of Amphibious Squadron 1.
18 • SanDiegofamily.com • November 2021
K.D. began his 35 years of active service (and counting) as a boatswain on the USS Midway. He met Leonie at SDSU after being selected for an enlisted-toofficer commissioning program. The Sanders are both transplants to the area—Leonie is the child of an Air Force veteran and a Thai immigrant—but they are glad to have returned many times over the years. “Not having any extended family in the area, we had to create our own community,” says Leonie. “We have watched our military friends grow and move all over the world and we are thrilled when we make it back to San Diego at the same time.” Both Leonie and K.D. are biracial. For them, community always begins with fellow military families as well as the local black community. One thing that helps them feel at home here—and wherever the Navy sends them—is their membership in two African American service-based organizations: Jack and Jill of America and Alpha Kappa Alpha. “I call and introduce myself and let them know my family is coming,” she says. “I seek advice on everything ranging from doctors, schools, neighborhoods, extracurricular activities and hairstylists. Having the connection brings instant friendship for my kids as well as myself and my husband.” The family feels lucky that their children have experienced the best of two worlds. They’ve lived all over the country, but also experienced the gift of lifelong friends, whom they’ve returned to again and again—enough to feel that they’ve grown up together. “You never get used to the deployments and it never gets easier,” says Leonie, “but having a community to lean on does make it tolerable.”
