October 28, 2008
Military.com|Andi, SpouseBuzz Editor

Some Things Never Change

On March 31, 1776, just days after the British had retreated from Boston, Abigail Adams wrote to her husband John Adams and stated, in part, “I wish you would ever write me a letter half as long as I write you.” A few days later, Abigail wrote, “I want to hear much oftener from you than I do.” Even in Revolutionary War times, letters between spouses helped to fill the void that existed when families found themselves separated from one another.

Throughout the centuries, military families have faced lengthy separations. In a post 9/11 world, these separations are commonly due to war. In Abigail Adam’s day, a letter from her husband was a Godsend. Today, opening your inbox and hearing, You’ve Got Mail is a Godsend, too. The method of delivery may have changed, but the thrill and relief that comes in the form of a dispatch from a loved one who is far away, remains. What’s lost due to distance is often regained through personal correspondence. Some things never change.

Fast Forward to Vietnam

SpouseBUZZ Talk Radio recently interviewed Elaine, a Vietnam-era military spouse, about how she and her husband Buddy stayed in touch during his two wartime deployments. Not surprisingly, the postal service was their lifeline.

Simple savings. Save when you buy a Dell and stay in touch with family.

During Buddy’s first deployment, Elaine never once spoke to him on the telephone, their only form of communication was through letters. By the time Buddy’s second deployment rolled around, Elaine thought it was important for her family to find a more intimate form of communication, so Buddy purchased two cassette recorders; one for him and one for Elaine. Once per week, Buddy would talk to their three children on one side of the tape. On the other side, he would talk to Elaine. After Elaine received Buddy’s tapes, she would record responses from the family and mail a fresh tape to Buddy in Vietnam. Elaine regarded these communications as vital to keeping the family more involved in each other’s lives.

Technology: Instant Gratification at the Click of a Mouse

Modes of communication throughout the years have dramatically changed due to innovations in technology. Technology is a blessing for military families as it has filled their communication arsenal with new tools. Tools which keep the communication between the battlefield and the home front current, and keep the family -- immediate and extended -- connected.

Today, we have the ability to email photos, send free e-cards, converse in real time via Instant Messenger, see each other through webcams and upload video of ourselves and our children to YouTube, weblogs, MySpace and other social networking sites.

Email is a great compliment to letter writing, and it’s a preferred option for many, but it’s doubtful that letter writing will ever become obsolete. In 2004, Army Wife Sarah wrote 215 letters to her husband during his 13-month deployment. Technology simply offers more options, more immediate options. It offers something that we’ve become accustomed to, for good or ill, Instant Gratification. While military families continue to rely on snail mail to deliver personal correspondence and care packages, having to rely solely on this method of delivery is no longer necessary for those of us who are plugged in, wired up and turned on. From letters to email, telegrams to Instant Messaging and cassette tapes to YouTube, staying connected today is quick and easy. We’re only a few clicks of a mouse away from one another.

Military families understand all too well that in these trying times, a computer with an internet connection is no longer a luxury, it’s a lifeline.

About the Author:

Andi is married to an active-duty soldier and is the founder of Military.com's virtual spouse community, SpouseBUZZ.com.

© Copyright 2008 Military.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.