Staying Strong During Chaos - A Letter to Military Families

Well, it has certainly been a week. So much to think about and adjust to. I sat to reflect and as the FRG leader for Carl’s Battalion, I felt that I needed to reach out to our military families, but I wanted to include all families that might benefit from the letter, so I decided to share it with you all. Please know that we are all in this together and I want everyone to know that we are ready to help should anyone need it. Don’t hesitate to reach out.

• Casey

Hello Families,

I hope my email finds you well and staying home with your families.  I apologize for any delay in getting my email out to you, but like many of you, there has been much to figure out over the last two weeks. 

The impacts of COVID-19 have been strong.  We fight fear, boredom, isolation, and anxiety on a daily basis. We are faced with new routines and different challenges than we have ever experienced before.  We are scared as a people, and concerned as a nation.  Even more, we struggle to predict the future as we try to decipher the truth.  

We are parents to children that don't understand.  We are children of parents that we fear will fall ill.  We struggle to make sacrifices that we don't readily see the outcome of value.  We try to persevere, we cut back, we cope, but we fatigue.

I want to remind you that you are NOT alone.  Though we cannot be physically together, our military community is strong.  In fact, our military families have more training to face these battles than most of our civilian counterparts.  When I paused to reflect, several pieces of hope came to mind and I wanted to share these same things with you.

As military families, we have been through so much and we are used to sacrifice.  We are used to the government restricting our abilities to choose things.  While at times this is limiting, it is essential for us to make these sacrifices for our freedom.  We are used to adjusting to change, new schedules, moving pieces, and handling the unknown.  We face these anxieties with courage and faith that tomorrow will come and we will be strong and ready to face the next challenge, having already met the challenge from the day before.  

Additionally, as military families, we are thankful.  We have the comfort of a paycheck coming every month and it is evident how meaningful that has suddenly become.  We are confident that we have resources to help us if we struggle.  We are so used to missing our loved ones, that we can even more appreciate the fact that most of us are getting more time together than ever before. 

During this difficult time, please remember you are prepared and you have possibly been through worse.  Our great-grandparents made sacrifices for our country during the world wars.  As military families, we have made sacrifices for our country during the wars that followed.  This war is a world war of a different type and magnitude, and our country can pull together to make the sacrifice it needs to win.   We are used to these sacrifices, and we can lead the way.

If you or your family are in need during this time, please don't hesitate to reach out. Remember that fresh food, good sleep, exercise, hydration, self care, prayer and meditation and even time alone can help bolster you and your families' immunity to stay well.  Do what you can to be healthy and extend yourself grace during the challenges of each day; you will get through this and we can help one another.  We are stronger together, even if from a social distancing length.

Keep running the race and keep the faith.  You are stronger than you know. We can do this!

All the best - from our family to yours,

Casey Benander