On June 8, the House approved, by unanimous consent, a resolution (H. Con. Res. 159) supporting National Military Families Week, celebrated the week of June 5, 2005. The Senate approved an identical resolution (S. Con. Res. 41) by unanimous consent on June 9. Rep. John Boozman (R-AR) and Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE) sponsored the resolutions.
According to the resolution, “The people of the United States have a sincere appreciation for the sacrifices being made by the families of members of the Armed Forces while their loved ones are deployed in the services of their country.” The resolution states that military families “face unique challenges while their loved ones are deployed because of the lengthy and dangerous nature of these deployments,” and “the strain on military family life is further increased when these deployments become more frequent.” Finally, the resolution notes that members of the Armed Forces “continue to have incredible, unending support from their families.”
Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC) stated that “in the last 30 years, the military has gone from a predominantly single male establishment to one with a greater emphasis on family. In 1974, for example, 40 percent of enlisted members were married. Today, nearly 50 percent of the active and Reserve component enlisted members on active duty are married. Among officers, 68 percent of active duty officers and 73 percent of Reserve component officers are married.” He added, “America has become heavily reliant on its Reserve components, the National Guard, the Army and Marine Corps Reserves and the Reserves of the other services. So the burden and sacrifice of war is not confined to a small portion of America’s military. The effort by military families is taking place in many of the small towns, cities, and counties that each of us represents. In my view, all military families have responded magnificently. So today I call upon my colleagues to support this resolution to honor military families, to thank them for what they have done, and to ask them for their continued support.”
Rep. Dan Boren (D-OK) said that National Military Families Week “will provide an opportunity to allow the Nation to recognize the sacrifices not only of those who serve in uniform but of the sacrifices that the families make as well. Military families left behind often face a myriad of challenges when a loved one is deployed. Fear, disappointment, depression, anger, respect, admiration, joy, and pride are just a few of the feelings that military families face during those months of separation. Many children will be born while a parent is deployed to Afghanistan or Iraq. Tragically, some of them will never know their parent who served in uniform. More so than ever, military families are facing birthdays, they are facing proms, graduations, holidays, and weddings and other family events without their service member. So it is fitting that our Nation recognizes the sacrifices being made by military families and appreciate their contributions.”
