Military Spouses Meet with Pelosi

Speaker of House Nancy Pelosi and several other Congressional representatives met today with military spouses in Washington, DC in the wake of a survey of 3,000 military family members that showed that 94 percent believed that people without close ties to the military "do not understand or appreciate the sacrifices made by service members and their families."

The survey was conducted by Blue Star Families, the American Red Cross, the USO, National Military Family Association, Armed Forces YMCA, Military.com and Military Spouse Magazine.

About 15 military spouses, all members of the National Military Family Association or Blue Star Families groups, met with Pelosi and 11 other congressional representatives. Spouse testimonies and responses were often emotional as they told of the problems they've faced getting necessary services, coping with multiple deployments, finding support networks, frequent moves and, in one case, adjusting to life after her husband was killed.

Speaker Pelosi began the meeting by saying that normally she meets with representatives of veterans groups and that she hoped her perspective would be "enhanced" by hearing from the spouses of service members.

"Your organizations are the guardians of a promise made by President Lincoln ... in the Gettysburg Address to care for ‘him that has borne the battles and for his widow and children," Pelosi said. "We will be working with the [Obama] Administration to ensure that your sacrifices are appreciated not just in word but in deed."

To find more family resources and news visit the Military Spouse Network.

Congressional representatives were especially curious about the services available to military families, specifically citing concerns about mental health and childcare resources.

Pam Stokes Eggleston, a Blue Star Families member whose husband retired from the Army after being injured in combat during both of his tours in Iraq, told those gathered that the survey findings resonated with her.

"My husband spent three years at Walter Reed and we had to reevaluate what our life would look like," Eggleston said.

Rep. Kay Granger, a Republican from Texas, told the military spouses that she was disheartened to hear the results of the survey. "It means that we as a nation are not doing what we should be doing," she said.

Rep. Susan Davis, a Democrat who represents San Diego area, echoed Granger's sentiments, saying she was saddened by the survey results, but not surprised.

"We are here to hear what are the gaps," Davis said.  "What can we do? How can we raise the consciousness of the country?"

Others present for the meeting included Tina Tchen of the White House Council on Women and Girls, Rep. Carole Shea-Porter (D-NH), Rep. Tim Walz (D-MN, Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI), Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ), Rep. Harry Teague (D-NM), Rep. Niki Tsongas (D-MA), Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper, (D-PA), Rep. John Hall (D-NY) and Rep. Ike Skelton (D-MO). Giffords happens to be the wife of a Navy pilot and Skelton is Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee.

Claire Woodward, the executive director of Blue Star Families, said after the meeting that this was her first trip to the Capitol and that she was impressed at how sincere the elected and appointed officials seemed. She acknowledged that many times interest from politicians is viewed skeptically by the military community.

"It is encouraging that there is not just an interest in hearing the stories, but there is interest in trying to write legislation," Woodward said. 

Woodward said that it is especially important that efforts be taken by the country's leaders to reduce the sense of alienation expressed by the survey's respondents. She said that her group has some projects planned to help concerned civilians reach out to military families.

"During World War II the nation was at war," Woodward said. "Right now the nation doesn't seem to be serving in that way."