Every Friday before Mother’s Day, another individual is celebrated who deserves recognition. It’s the military spouse. By order of President Ronald Reagan and Proclamation 5184, this day has been recognized since April 17, 1984. The proclamation says:
Since the early days of the Continental Army, the wives of our servicemen have made unselfish contributions to the spirit and well-being of their fighting men and the general welfare of their communities.
Throughout the years, as the numbers of our married men and women in uniform have grown and as their military missions have become more complex and dispersed, their spouses have made countless personal sacrifices to support the Armed Forces. In many instances, they subordinated their personal and professional aspirations to the greater benefit of the service family. Responding to the call of duty, they frequently endured long periods of separation or left familiar surroundings and friends to re-establish their homes in distant places. And there they became American ambassadors abroad.
As volunteers, military spouses have provided exemplary service and leadership in educational, community, recreational, religious, social and cultural endeavors. And as parents and homemakers, they preserve the cornerstone of our Nation’s strength—the American family.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, RONALD REAGAN, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 23, 1984, as Military Spouse Day, in recognition of the profound importance of spouse commitment to the readiness and well-being of service members on active duty and in the National Guard and Reserve, and to the security of our Nation. I invite all the Armed Forces, the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard, the Departments of Defense and Transportation, the Governors of the several States, the chief officials of local governments, and the people of the United States to observe this day in an appropriate manner.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 17th day of April, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and eighth.
RONALD REAGAN1
As of September 2023, the number serving in the US military was 2,079,142. Almost 1.3 million of those are active duty and 17.5% of those are women. The Army boasts the greatest enlistment with 453,551 soldiers.2
The number of those left behind is far greater than the number serving. Not only are there spouses, but there are usually children who do not get to see their mom or dad. Never having been in this situation, I can only imagine how difficult this must be.
In Bible days, the situation was similar. Consider Deuteronomy 3:18-20. “And I commanded you at that time, saying, The LORD your God hath given you this land to possess it: ye shall pass over armed before your brethren the children of Israel, all that are meet for the war. (19) But your wives, and your little ones, and your cattle, (for I know that ye have much cattle,) shall abide in your cities which I have given you; (20) Until the LORD have given rest unto your brethren, as well as unto you, and until they also possess the land which the LORD your God hath given them beyond Jordan: and then shall ye return every man unto his possession, which I have given you.”
We know that this situation has always been difficult but there is a level of difficulty that’s even worse in this age. “According to reports based on U.S. Census Bureau data, those who have served in the military have the highest divorce rate of any career field.”3 Those who serve are in danger of losing their life, limb, or love.
If we should happen to know someone left behind while their spouse serves our country, we need to 1) love them; 2) support them; 3) encourage them; 4) be there for them. Honor those spouses today and thank them for what they’ve given for our country.
1https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/STATUTE-98/pdf/STATUTE-98-Pg3583-2.pdf
2https://usafacts.org/articles/how-many-people-are-in-the-us-military-a-demographic-overview/
3https://www.military.com/daily-news/opinions/2023/06/22/why-divorce-particularly-hard-military-families.html
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