My OperaWe make a living by what we do, but we make a life by what we give."
Tuesday, October 27, 2009 1:32:14 PM
Often I’ve said we can never do enough for our nation’s heroes who willingly stand up to fight for our freedoms, but honestly, no one can state there’s a lack of availability of community support for our men and women in uniform today. Especially with outstanding organizations out there like the USO that do so much serving those who serve.
However, behind every courageous Soldier, Airman, Sailor, Coastie and Marine is a great military family. And we have to be thankful to them as well because they support their loved ones the most and sacrifice so much while they’re in service – which is not easy. It’s for those loved ones and love of our great country that our troops defend us from all enemies, foreign and domestic every day.
That’s why today was so special to me. Today’s volunteer event with the USO was just for the families. I escorted military wives on an excursion to the Paul Mitchell Salon for free makeovers as a thank you to them for supporting their husbands in the Army.
While there’s an undeniable passion and love for country in every troop, they fight for freedoms so not just Americans are safe, but so their families in particular are too. We’re all just so lucky to benefit from those altruistic acts.
But while they’re away, families remain home and must go on living their life with a pivotal piece missing upwards of 18 months at a time (for the Army National Guard that is how long a deployment can last). There’s countless missed birthdays, holidays, special occasions…the birth of a child, first steps and first words, graduations and more. Those moments we all take for granted and celebrate together – these are memorable moments that can’t be replicated or put on hold until a loved one returns from service. They’re small examples of the great sacrifices made by our troops and their families in service to our nation.
Hanging out with the families today was incredible. A few mothers, their children and a few more wives all got away from Walter Reed Army Medical Center where they’ve spent so much time healing with their Wounded Warriors who are recovering at the hospital. It was wonderful to watch them relish in a few hours of relaxation while they got their hair cut and/or colored. They all looked radiantly happy and beautiful when they were done.
While it seems like such a small way to thank these women for standing by their men, it’s the small details like this that can make a big difference. Think about it…when you’re at the hospital and getting your husband ready for another drilling physical therapy appointment or waiting through another surgery or trying to manage your house and bills back home while taking care of everything here, the last thing on your mind is taking care of yourself and keeping up with things like haircuts.
But when you’re able to break away for just a few hours and let someone else take care of it for you, it can be an instant uplift. With transportation to and from the salon taken care of by the USO, and no costs to worry about from the donated services by the stylists, it really is a special treat. I know how much I love a great cut and color, and what it does for my confidence. I’m sure it does the same for them.
These women are already beautiful on the inside for what they do, but now their hair can match their hearts. And I’m betting their husbands loved both the physical and emotional difference something like this makes – which in turn makes them happy. Win-win situation…
This small gesture is not nearly enough to really say thank you, but it’s a big step in the right direction. And I was happy to be there for it. After all, they’re my extended family and I love my brothers and sisters in uniform. And clearly others do as well.
Special thanks to the USO and the Paul Mitchell Salon for taking care of not just our heroes, but their families too!
However, behind every courageous Soldier, Airman, Sailor, Coastie and Marine is a great military family. And we have to be thankful to them as well because they support their loved ones the most and sacrifice so much while they’re in service – which is not easy. It’s for those loved ones and love of our great country that our troops defend us from all enemies, foreign and domestic every day.
That’s why today was so special to me. Today’s volunteer event with the USO was just for the families. I escorted military wives on an excursion to the Paul Mitchell Salon for free makeovers as a thank you to them for supporting their husbands in the Army.
While there’s an undeniable passion and love for country in every troop, they fight for freedoms so not just Americans are safe, but so their families in particular are too. We’re all just so lucky to benefit from those altruistic acts.
But while they’re away, families remain home and must go on living their life with a pivotal piece missing upwards of 18 months at a time (for the Army National Guard that is how long a deployment can last). There’s countless missed birthdays, holidays, special occasions…the birth of a child, first steps and first words, graduations and more. Those moments we all take for granted and celebrate together – these are memorable moments that can’t be replicated or put on hold until a loved one returns from service. They’re small examples of the great sacrifices made by our troops and their families in service to our nation.
Hanging out with the families today was incredible. A few mothers, their children and a few more wives all got away from Walter Reed Army Medical Center where they’ve spent so much time healing with their Wounded Warriors who are recovering at the hospital. It was wonderful to watch them relish in a few hours of relaxation while they got their hair cut and/or colored. They all looked radiantly happy and beautiful when they were done.
While it seems like such a small way to thank these women for standing by their men, it’s the small details like this that can make a big difference. Think about it…when you’re at the hospital and getting your husband ready for another drilling physical therapy appointment or waiting through another surgery or trying to manage your house and bills back home while taking care of everything here, the last thing on your mind is taking care of yourself and keeping up with things like haircuts.
But when you’re able to break away for just a few hours and let someone else take care of it for you, it can be an instant uplift. With transportation to and from the salon taken care of by the USO, and no costs to worry about from the donated services by the stylists, it really is a special treat. I know how much I love a great cut and color, and what it does for my confidence. I’m sure it does the same for them.
These women are already beautiful on the inside for what they do, but now their hair can match their hearts. And I’m betting their husbands loved both the physical and emotional difference something like this makes – which in turn makes them happy. Win-win situation…
This small gesture is not nearly enough to really say thank you, but it’s a big step in the right direction. And I was happy to be there for it. After all, they’re my extended family and I love my brothers and sisters in uniform. And clearly others do as well.
Special thanks to the USO and the Paul Mitchell Salon for taking care of not just our heroes, but their families too!
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