News

It is very common for most National Guard and Reserve Family Readiness Groups to have families more than 200-300 miles apart. This creates a sense of isolation for the service members and their families, and causes a difficult situation for FRG's, whose purpose is to connect and communicate with families.

Blue Star Families recently attended a Yellow Ribbon event in Wichita Kansas. 

Brittany McKee assisted Mary Nesbitt with the event.  They also handed out Thx Boxes to families at the event and signed up new members.

Well, the tree is trimmed, the presents are brought and it has just become very real for me that my husband will not be here to celebrate Christmas with us.

Thanksgiving was difficult, I did not get dressed until one. Our oldest daughter bought a house earlier this year and wanted to host her first Thanksgiving at her house, so the batton has been passed. I was so relieved to not not have to cook:) I watched the entire Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade with my  two younger kids, who are not so young 14, and 16. Our local High School was in the parade so it was a must see, so we could search for the kids we know. Way to go HOYA's!!!

The scene was familiar, but not our place in it.  Last night, our military family had the honor of lighting the Hanukkah menorah at the White House, reciting the blessings over the candles, and meeting President Obama, Mrs. Obama, and Vice President Biden.

I’ve always considered the “holiday season” to be from mid-November to just after New Year’s Day, but Lisa Miller, Executive Director of Career Connection, writes in last year’s November-December Career Connect newsletter “The holiday season officially starts October 30 to January 15th (approximately 77 days of networking ).”

This weekend launched the holiday season for Blue Star Families.  On Veteran's Day, Service Nation, Target, PBS's This Emotional Life and BSF held an event to pack "thx boxes" for military families.  Now comes the fun part - handing out hundreds of gift bags to excited military families!

American Airlines, the Sands Foundation, Thanks-USA and Blue Man Group teamed up to host the fourth Tribute to the Troops event in Las Vegas, Nevada. The USO was also on hand to help out with the three-day trip for wounded warriors and their families beginning on Veteran’s Day (November 11th through November 14th). What a grand event it was!

I recently received a great t-shirt as a gift from a friend of mine.  It has a yellow ribbon on the front, with the words Thank You in black, outlined in yellow and the silhouette of 4 soldiers in full combat gear.  I love it.

BSF members in the Tidewater region of Virginia - Norfolk, Virginia Beach and Chesapeake - have been working hard on Operation Appreciation.  We thought we'd give you a sneak peak of what happens behind the scenes to get your letters of appreciation out to service members, veterans, parents, military spouses and children.