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This is a call to arms for civilians. I will start out by saying, I have been the person that I am going to write about and I know better. I was a military wife and my husband got out of the military after 8 years of service to pursue college and a career. After he got out, I forgot what the life was like and to my military wife friends, I am truly sorry, this has been on my heart and I have felt the need to say it.

We support the troops. This is very easy to say, to put a yellow ribbon on our cars and put on our Facebook profiles, but what are we really doing to support our troops? Now, first off, let me note that I say support the troops, I am not suggesting to those who oppose the war that they forget that, I am talking about the troops. The men and women who put their lives on the line to make sure that we have the freedom to live, to celebrate our faith, and etc. What are we doing about those left back at home? Are we taking care of the wives and husbands and children? Are we talking the talk, but not walking the walk? This shouldn’t happen.

I am a former Navy/Marine and Army wife (I’ve only been married once, he was a Navy corpsman, joined an elite group of Marines and then during college joined the Army Reserves). My story is this, I went from a Greenpeace card carrying member and someone who peacefully protested injustices to me now. Deep down, I still wish that there were ways to peaceable handle things, however I know that sometimes force is what it takes. I support the troops, if I like what the war or whatever is going on, that doesn’t matter, I support the TROOPS.

I looked the other day and saw that if my husband went back into the military life, we would loose have of what he makes now as a civilian. Is this right? Why are military families having to qualify for WIC (women, infant and children assistance) to help pay for their groceries? It hardly seems fair.

So I challenge you to go out of your way and your comfort zone to do something nice for a soldier or for their family! Send a care package, have your children draw them a picture or anything. Something nice to thank the soldier for putting their lives on the line for us everyday. For more information, please check out the USO .