Military Appreciation Month Interview with MilitaryConnection.com's Debbie Gregory

This May marks the 10th annual National Military Appreciation Month and I wanted to write something in honor of our troops and their sacrifice. With that in mind, I interviewed Debbie Gregory, President and CEO of MilitaryConnection.com, and asked her several questions about ways to show support for military personnel. I encourage readers to act on her suggestions and do something in support of our military, not just this May, but all year long.

Mike Allen: With May being Military Appreciation Month, what are some practical ways civilians can show support to military personnel and their families?

Debbie Gregory: We at MilitaryConnection.com believe that there are a variety of ways that civilians can show their support and appreciation for our troops and their families. If you want to make a small gesture, you could send a thank you card or letter to a deployed service person through an organization such as SoldiersAngels.org or AnySoldier.org. If you want to make a grand gesture, you could organize a letter and/or card writing campaign through your local church, school, social group or civic organization. These same groups would love to receive donations of wanted and needed items that can be included in comfort packages sent to deployed troops.

MA: Military spouses, particularly those whose husband or wife are deployed in combat areas, deal with extra stress. How can friends and family help them carry that heavy load?

DG: Keep in mind that a shared burden decreases the load for all, so be a strong shoulder and a good listener. Volunteer to help with small chores, the “Honey do” list or babysitting when you can. Any act of kindness will go a long way.

MA: How does Military Connection serve our armed forces?

DG: At MilitaryConnection.com, we are the “go to” site for all things military. We strive to deliver a multitude of free resources for the military community, including a directory of scholarships, a directory of employers, lists of all the commissaries and exchanges, pay charts, pay calculators, forms, and so much more. Users can find benefits, organizations, associations, news, forums, columns of interest, job tips and more. There is something for everyone. Additionally, we work with a number of fantastic military non profit groups to assist military personnel and their families to make their lives easier.

MA: Does the Military Connection have a special message during Military Appreciation Month?

DG: We would like to express our gratitude to our men and women in uniform and their families for the sacrifices they make every day. We appreciate everything they are doing, and know that freedom is not free, and they are the ones who are paying the price. If there is any resource they would like to see available on our web site, they can contact us at inquiries<at>militaryconnection.com and we will do our best to accommodate their request.