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Honoring the unsung sacrifices of Americaâ€™s military spouses

office 1122 Henderson Dr., Jacksonville, N.C. 28540 347-9624 Publisher James M. Connors

As the proud civilian publisher of The Globe and The RotoVue newspapers, which serve the Marines and sailors aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Air Station New River, I’ve seen the hard work and dedication our service members provide our country. I also know the sacrifices of their spouses, the unsung heroes left behind to take care of the homefront. Honoring these spouses with for their loyalty to the military and their service members is necessary, and I’m thankful to celebrate six years, and more importantly, the more than 60 nominees during the 2013 Military Spouse Awards, Heroes at Home event. This event would not be possible without the faithful support of the local business community. Since the inception of our Heroes at Home event, Stevenson Auto Group and USA Discounters have led the way with their generosity. This year’s Gold Sponsors, Webster University and Marine Federal Credit Union, also made significant contributions, and Biotest returned to show their appreciation as well. Our new sponsors include Kimberly Clark, Verizon Wireless, New Hanover Regional Medical Center and Carolina Pediatrics. Thank you all for your assistance. I’d also like to extend my gratitude for the service members and their spouses who are in attendance today, including our guest of honor, Maj. Gen. Glen M. Walters. Thank you to our judges who took time out of their schedules to read each spouse’s story while supporting the community through their local organizations including the USO of North Carolina Jacksonville Center, Hope for the Warriors, the United Way, Marine Corps Family Team Building and the Jacksonville-Onslow County Chamber of Commerce. Finally, the Landmark Military Media of NC team is grateful to have Ms. Kim Ratcliff of WECT/WSFX Carolina in the Morning returning as the emcee for this event. Joining her this year is Carolina native, Skip Waters of WCTI News Channel 12. To those who came today to show their support their spouse, family member or friend, thank you for recognizing the importance of the role of a military spouse and for joining our team in celebrating their hard work and devotion. The 2013 Heroes at Home nominees, finalists and winner are worthy of all the praise and appreciation they receive. Congratulations and thank you all. Jim Connors

Publisher of Landmark Military Newspapers of North Carolina The Globe & RotoVue

Managing Editor Ena Sellers Assistant Managing Editor Amy Binkley contributing editor Chantel Green editorial designer Becca Keller Event Coordinator Emily Kelley Business Manager Rachel Picard Advertising Designers Hillary Bratton Julia Dillon Sales Staff Bobby Stone Emily Kelley Teresa Moore Distribution Manager Dennis Fusco Heroes at Home disclaimer: Heroes at Home: Military Spouse Award is published by Landmark Military Newspapers of N.C., a private enterprise not connected with the DoD or the U.S. Marine Corps. The appearance of advertising in this publication, including does not constitute endorsement of these products or services by the DoD, the U.S. Marine Corps, or Landmark Military Newspapers of N.C. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation, or any other nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user, or patron. If a violation or rejection of this equal opportunity policy by an advertiser is confirmed, the publisher shall refuse to print advertising from that source until the violation is corrected. The editorial content of this publication is the responsibility of Landmark Military Newspapers of N.C.

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HEROES COME IN MANY FORMS Our Troops and Warriors no doubt are Heroes; they endure things most of us cannot fathom. The Parent of a Service Member is a Hero because they gave this country a life that chose to fight for freedom. Children are Heroes because they wait and pray for their serving parent to come home and hold them. Wives of deployed Service Members often give birth to their firstborn - without their husbands close enough to touch. The Spouse of a Service Member endures things people unrelated to the military would never understand. They wait, cry, laugh and love like today is their only day. The staff and faculty of Webster University are honored to recognize our Heroes afar and our Heroes at Home.

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2013 heroes at home

Hope for the Warriors

Spouses are the unsung heroes. Service members are typically recognized for their outstanding acts of courge, but frequently no one knows how their spouse is holding down the homefront. They deserve to be recognized too.

United Way

As military spouses, we have the ability to inspire the community and our families in ways others do not understand. With Heroes at Home, these spouses, these local inspirations get honored for their ability to do the incredible everyday.

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Iâ€™ve worked with volunteers (many of whom are military spouses) for more than 20 years. Theyâ€™re the best people to work with because they give their time so unselfishly.

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These women blow my mind with everything they do. As I read the nominations, I had chills. Iâ€™m amazed at all theyâ€™ve endured and accomplished.

USO

I am honored to have the opportunity to get to know each of the applicants through their nominations. It warms my heart knowing these spouses stand behind their service members even through separations, challenges and the ever-changing lifestyle of the military.

Hope for the Warriors

This is a time to recognize the support system of our countryâ€™s warriors. The warrior can do his or her job knowing that the household is doing well because the military spouse is managing it with grace.

Our resources are as sustaining and precious as our strong military spouses. Congratulations 2013 nominees! 6

2013 heroes at home

Congratulations to the 2013 military spouse awards nominees & winners!

Congratulations to all the 2013 Military Spouse Awards nominee s!

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Brig. Gen. Burke W. Whit man

Brigadier General Burke W. Whitman serves as the Deputy Commanding General (Mobilization) of II Marine Expeditionary Force, and concurrently as the Assistant Division Commander of 2d Marine Division (the Ground Combat Element of II Marine Expeditionary Force). Reared in Atlanta, he graduated with honors from Lovett High School, earned a BA with honors on a work scholarship from Dartmouth College where he played on the rugby team, an MBA from Harvard University, and a commission as an officer of Marines after graduate school. As a Marine, he has commanded infantry and reconnaissance units at all levels from platoon to regiment; served as an operations officer at all levels from battalion to combatant command; developed national military strategy at the Pentagon; advised foreign security forces; and conducted combat in Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. He earned a Master of Strategic Studies degree from the U.S. Army War College, and is a fully Joint Qualified Officer. Chronologically, he has served as Commander of a Rifle Platoon, Mortar Platoon, Light Armored Company, Civil Affairs Detachment,

Reconnaissance Company, 4th Reconnaissance Battalion deployed to Iraq, and 25th Marine Regiment deployed to Africa. In other operating assignments, he has served as Aerial Observer, Company Executive Officer, Battalion Operations Officer, Special Operations Liaison Officer in Bosnia, Division Operations Officer, Senior Advisor to an Iraqi Army Brigade, Joint Interagency Operations Officer with U.S. Central Command, and Director of Afghan Forces with Marine Expeditionary Brigade Afghanistan. In supporting assignments, he has served as Deputy Director of Middle East Strategy & Policy with the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Member of the Amphibious Capabilities Working Group. As a civilian, he has served as CEO and CFO of two companies traded on the New York Stock Exchange and included in S&P 500 and Fortune 500, and was voted an Institutional Investor Best CEO and Best CFO. He has served on the Boards of Toys for Tots Foundation, the Federation of American Hospitals, and Marine Corps University; and on the Founders Group of the National Museum of the Marine Corps.

Congratulations to all Heroes at Home 2013 nominees!

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Members of the Crystal Coast Quartet – Bonny Morden, Andrea Tolmich, Holly Gutierrez and Kimberly Zimmerman – will donate their time and talents to set a melodic atmosphere for the Heroes at Home Awards ceremony. Making music with three violins and a cello, the group is honored to be a part of the event recognizing military spouses.

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“I don’t know how they do it,” remarked Morden. “I’m overwhelmed at their strength. We had no hesitation and jumped at the opportunity to be apart of this event. We’re deeply touched and thrilled to be able to show our appreciation to the service members and their families.”

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Spare Change, one of Eastern North Carolinaâ€™s most sought-after musical groups, recognizes the importance of the sacrifices of service members. They also know the challenges faced by the spouses who are left behind. Lead singer, and the only female in the group, Veronica Welch, lent her powerful vocal talent to honor those who serve on the homefront with her rendition of the national anthem at the 2013 Heroes at Home event.

2013 heroes at home

Emcee

Kim Kopka Ratcliff is the co-anchor for Carolina in the Morning on WECT and FOX Wilmington, and has generously emceed the Heroes at Home event for the past several years. “I can’t wait to meet this year’s spouses and hear their stories. I am always amazed at the challenges the contestants have faced and overcome,” said Ratcliff. Kim has experienced the challenges of military life first hand as she watched her mother take care of her and her two brothers, often on her own. She says support at home is critical because a happy spouse will make for a happy Marine.

Co-Emcee

My television career started before I made the choice to pursue broadcast meteorology. From fall 1970 through spring 1971, I was the science, geography and miscellaneous team representative on the WBBH-TV20 “High School Quiz Bowl” program in Fort Myers, Fla., where I attended North High School. I was the blond kid who knew the answer to questions like “what fish has both eyes on one side of its head? North Fort Myers... Waters...the Flounder” and “what is the ugliest mammal on earth? The warthog.” Little did I know that to be the beginning of a fun and exciting career in television. After college at the University of South Florida in Tampa, I returned to Fort Myers and went to work as a television meteorologist at WEVU-TV26 the ABC affiliate in Southwest, Fla. I worked there from October 1976 through April 1982, when the opportunity to return home to my native North Carolina was made available to me at NewsChannel 12. It was a pleasure to move back to North Carolina, where I was born (Greensboro), and where most of my family still lives.

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Chaplain Navy Lt. Kenyon Kaehr will deliver the invocation at the event and believes supporting military families is also indirectly supporting service members. â€œMilitary families are the true backbone of every service member,â€? said Kaehr.

In honor of Marine Corps tradition, four members of Lejeune High School Color Guard will present the colors for the Heroes at Home event. The color guard is led by retired Master Gunnery Sgt. James Gardiner.

2013 heroes at home

By Chantel Green A mother’s love is unThe biggest reward is like any other – one that will seeing your husband and sustain a family through the family flourish even with hardest of times. Rian Sanford spent the these obstacles. -Rian Sanford past six years fighting the education system for fair treatment of her sons, both of whom for nine years now,” said her husband. have autism. While her husband was deShe dealt with multiple deployments while overcoming ployed, Sanford’s advocacy paid off with her sons’placement in a overwhelming obstacles. “It is said that being a parent more constructive school. Sanford is a force to be reckto one child with autism is like being a parent to four normal oned with as a mother, wife and children due to the amount of advocate, yet still finds time to specialized and medical care help others through the Exceprequired. If that is true, then tional Family Member Program my wife has been a mother and at Marine Corps Air Station an advocate to eight children New River. Get a sneak peek of your little runner at

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By Chantel Green One deployment is one too We have learned to many for most military spouses. live for today, taking Amy Taft has endured 14 since each victory and 1996. Her husband, a Navy corpsman, was injured and has magical moment for suffered from PTSD and trauwhat it is. -Amy Taft matic brain injuries. Taft believes walking through life with so many different people Taft’s devotion extends not is one of the greatest rewards of only to military members but to military life, and for the past de- their families as well. cade, she has devoted her time to “She is a personal counselor counseling and advising Marines for other military families, assistand sailors. ing with all aspects of adjusting to She strives to discover new military life,” said a nominator. ways to help people and plans to Taft’s secret to navigating milido that through earning her doc- tary life is simple. torate degree and opening a fam“Just go to sleep. Tomorrow is ily center for those dealing with a new day – a new approach,” she PTSD and TBIs. said.

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By Chantel Green Volunteering is not a paid position because the work done is priceless, and the volunteers are selfless. Krystyn Case is one of these devoted individuals. Case dedicates her free time to the Naval Hospital aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. Her efforts toward medical improvements for service members and their families makes a widespread impact on the Camp Lejeune community. Continuing her tireless volunteer efforts and taking care of her own children, Case took on the challenges of her husband’s 12-month deployment. “She gracefully overcame any and

The military family is not comparable to any other community, and I love being a part of it! -Krystyn Case

all challenges thrown at her, while always simultaneously offering her assistance and support to anyone at the Naval Hospital, or in her personal realm,” said a friend and nominator. Case admits to facing her fair share of challenges as a military spouse, but says it has enriched her life. She remains steadfast in believing that rewards are found within the challenges of military life. She would never trade it for anything.

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By Amy Binkley In times of trouble, trial, confu...there’s no other sion and despair, people look for a way of life for me hand of hope. Rhiannon Tuttle is -Rhiannon Tuttle ready to help. Not even her third trimester no longer “his path” or “my path,” could keep Tuttle from volunteer- it became our path,” she explained. ing to be the point of contact for Tuttle couldn’t anticipate her spouses while more than 50 Flight weeks would hold many hospital Line Marines trained in California visits as several of her peers dealt earlier this year. With her experi- with life-threatening situations, ence as a Family Readiness Assis- surgeries and even the loss of a tant, the act seemed natural, and child. She stood strong for those she considered it her duty to be who couldn’t, epitomizing the exthere for others. ample of a military spouse worth “I know that as a spouse I am following. supposed to maintain my individu“This life can seem like an uphill ality and not allow his career to battle every day,” she said. “It’s not overshadow my own path in life, for everyone, but there is no other but when we spoke our vows it was way of life for me.”

2013 heroes at home

She puts her heart and soul into each event for the Camp Lejeune Officers’ Wives’ Club and will go above and beyond the needs of the club. She has almost tripled the fundraising amount from the past years. She took care of our three young children while I was deployed and participates in family readiness programs, career days, YMCA and children’s book readings.

She took care of our son while he was healing from surgery and all our animals while I was deployed. She always puts herself last.

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Carolyn spends a significant amount of time on the internet reading and responding to forums from other military spouses. She tries to give guidance to other spouses and new people to Jacksonville. Emily is always fun to be around and helps out with childcare whenever she’s needed. She also writes a wonderful article about being a military parent (in Coastal Carolina Parent) which is uplifting and fun to read. She is a very caring and loving mother and involves her children in activities to help other military families. She is one of the best Marine wives you will ever meet.

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Heroes at Home Nominees

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Presenting this yearâ€™s

Daniesha Aikens Aislinn Baker Kathy Benjamin Victoria Bourg Genevieve Bowmaster Krystyn Case Nicole Couch Shamica M. DeBose Samantha Delatte Tammy Derrick Dayna Mae Dow Brianna Englehart Margaret Epperson Natascha Fogel Teresa Freeland Christie Fricke Shana Hamilton Ceraya Hancock Emily Hanke

Amanda Hernandez Megan Hoffman Ashely Jacobs Melissa Jibson Christine Jimenez Corey Jones Davinity Jones Amanda Kelley Courtney Keys Amanda King Kara Kloby Brittany Koczrowski Loren Kuebler Andrea Kutilek Marcia Marie Larose Baileigh Levee Philomena Makinen Janice Marcum Carissa Marine Patricia Lee McCrary

Courtney Moon Ashlee Morris Cathy Oâ€™Gorman Coretta Powell Rian Marie Sanford Tammie Bittiker Saylor Erin Shafer Laura Shuler Leyda Simon Brittany Spain Becky Stalcup Amy Taft Carolyn M. Thomas Rhiannon Tuttle Erin Warthen Misty Wells Sue Weston Jennifer Wiser Tiffany Youngquist

Thank you to everyone who submitted their loved ones for the Heroes at Home Award!

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Elizabeth Soutter Schwarzer I never wore the uniform, no medals on my chest. The band it doesn’t play for me, I am not among the Best. I do not march in cadence, I do not rate salute, I stand among the silent ranks, our devotion absolute. If you’ve not worn my shoes, you do not know my story. I live a life of sacrifice, my reward a private glory. I’ve wept many silent nights away, and I’ve kept the home fires burning. I’ve worried and I’ve waited,

as world events were churning. I’ve moved more times than you could fathom, left more people than you’ve known. I’ve planted gardens ‘round the world – Very few that I’ve seen grown. I’ve grieved with new-made widows, and had my share of scares – when a ship or plane or man was down, and all I had were prayers. I’m not asking for your sympathy, (although appreciation can be nice)

I did it quite on purpose though – I chose to sacrifice. I’ll tell you a secret now, one you’d never guess. About the one glory that is mine, it’s just enough - no more, no less. When you and I stand together as our national anthem plays, I’ll fill with reminiscences of how I spent those days. I’ll know the pain and joys again, I’ll know that freedom isn’t free, I’ll know I’ve helped to pay the price and that the anthem plays for me.

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Not only is Jen a stellar Commanding Officer wife, she has contributed greatly to the Family Readiness Program for our unit. She also founded an organization that reaches out to families with Down Syndrome children to help provide them with support, information and friendship.

My wife managed to not only keep herself strong during deployment but me as well, and she continued to keep her head up during an extension. No matter the circumstances she always was there for me.

I was inspired by Shamicaâ€™s attitude and fortitude to make life for her and the boys as normal as possible while Artonio was deployed. She continued to be productive at work and be there for all of her friends and coworkers whenever we needed someone to talk to.

She is a very caring person and puts a lot of hard work back into the community. She is actively involved in the USO and other area organizations. For that reason, I feel that she is deserving of this award.

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By Jacey Eckhart At the end of every month, at least one young mom pictured with a dumpling sweet baby puts a plaintive post on a military spouse website. “Does anyone know how to make a little extra money from home? My daughter is eight months old but I’m not really ready to leave her yet. My husband is deployed. We have bills to pay. Do you know of anything?” Internet silence. With a 26 percent unemployment rate among military spouses, this isn’t a surprise. Of course, we spouses are quick to offer solidarity: I’m so sorry this is happening to you. Can you try cutting back your expenses? Have you tried Mary Kay? Etsy? Answering surveys online? I usually sit at my keyboard frozen, not a good job idea in my idea hamster head. Who knows how a military spouse can get a real job? One that she can work from home? One that doesn’t require selling anything to your friends or intense magical thinking? Well, uh, I do. This month I am going to be the one responding to that post telling her to go to www. msepjobs.com. The Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP) is the new Department of Defense job program for military spouses. In the first three months of the program, the DoD has already vetted 96 corporate partners like SAIC, Amazon, AT&T, 3M and George Mason University with more to come. So far, 5,600 military spouses have been hired for a mix of different jobs, from entry-level stuff and barista/cashier positions to careers in technology that require a masters degree. In fact, an outside auditor found that more than 40% of the job listings in the program require a college degree, which reflects the rising level of education found among military spouses. “This really is about establishing careers, not just jobs,” said Robert Gordon, assistant secretary of defense for military community and family policy in a telephone

conference last week. Gordon said that portability and telecommuting are essential, although not exclusive, features of the kinds of jobs MSEP is looking for from their partners. So I went online to check out the job offerings available. What did I find? Like on all job hunting sites, I found out I was not qualified for most of the jobs offered. After all, I’m not a Chinese linguist. I do not currently live in Stuttgart, Germany. I did not major in accounting - shoot, I couldn’t even make myself attend an accounting class any time the sun was shining. But I did find a few jobs for which I was qualified. I even found a couple of jobs that interested me to which I could telecommute. What didn’t I find? I didn’t find anyone with a handout for military spouses. In my brief search, I didn’t find anyone advertising for young moms with absolutely no skills who could seal envelopes at home for big money. But I did find opportunity. I did find jobs where a military spouse could get her foot in the door and maybe get a follow-on telecommuting job later. I did find a pattern of jobs that might be reason enough to go back to school seeking a particular major using GI Bill money. Military spouse employment is a complicated issue, I know. It isn’t going to be solved by a simple jobs board. It isn’t supposed to be. But this new pattern of negotiating with employers, championing military spouses in the job search, discovering quality jobs that can offer military spouses portability and/or telecommutability, is a big step forward, I hope. For all of us. Jacey Eckhart is a military life consultant in Washington, D.C. She is the author of “The Homefront Club” and the voice behind the award-winning CD “These Boots.” Facebook Jacey or contact her at jacey@ jaceyeckhart.com.

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Many thanks to Rachel Deere, owner of Bridal by the Sea, for her generous donation of the flowers for this event. She believes it is important to support the military families who protect and serve the country. Deere comes from a military background and knows firsthand the struggles families face. “I have many friends who serve and whose spouses are holding down the fort at home. The active-duty members get a good bit of recognition, and I feel it is important to recognize the spouses as well,” said Deere.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, local photographer Michelle Parsley wrote a novel about the 2013 Heroes at Home. Parsley donated her time and talents to provide promotional photos for the event and pictures of the finalists. She also documented the big day to make sure spouses stories are not only told but seen. “As a military spouse myself, I’ve seen the trials and triumphs they’ve gone through,” Parsley explained. “Usually there isn’t a lot of recognition for spouses. We appreciate your service holding down the homefront.”

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Special thanks to Angela Diaz and her daughter-in-law at Happycakes Cupcakery for their cupcake donations. As the mother and wife, respectively, of a member of the Navy, they both feel very strongly about recognizing the families behind the military. “We understand the families of service members have an incredibly tough job. We consider it a privilege to be able to participate in this event and do whatever we can to provide support for military families,” said Diaz.

Everyone shows their appreciation in different ways. Support Military Spouses, a local non-profit company, does it with shoeboxes. Through their generous donations, the Heroes at Home nominees were given packages made with love and filled with items like jewelry, cosmetics, stationary and more. “We understand the sacrifices that military spouses and their families make throughout the year, but we especially want to show them how grateful we are in honor of Military Spouse Appreciation Day. The Shoebox Gifts are just a small way we can show support for the heroes on the homefront,” stated Dr. Steven and Diane Rumley.

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HEROES AT HOME

The majesty of a mother’s love By Amy Binkley

Amanda Hernandez is loved. The bubbly redhead’s natural maternal instinct won her a place in the hearts of most people who met her long before she was ever recognized for an award. “She has reached out, touched and helped so many people by just showing kindness, love and compassion,” said her husband, Chief Petty Officer Angel Hernandez. “She spent countless nights caring for our sick children, juggling homework, giving baths, taking care of automotive issues, handling housing matters and chauffeuring kids to therapies or other scheduled activities.” While Amanda’s main priority is her family, she considers it her duty and honor as a military spouse to extend her open arms to others. “As a military spouse you have a family no matter where you may go,” she explained.

When you see her in action, you just know this is a military wife who has it figured out. “We form lifelong friendships and bond together through good times and bad.” Her own tragedy of losing a child was devastating, but it couldn’t keep her down. “She decided, almost immediately, there had to be other military families going through the same grief without the benefit of a support group,” one ofher nominators wrote. It fueled her to begin the Resolve Through Sharing Infant Loss Support Group at Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune last October, and the response was tremendous. “I often wonder how Amanda does it.

She can bring you in and make you feel like family,” another nominator noted. “She is one of those few people you know will drop everything and come help you in your time of need.” Having experienced the trials of multiple deployments, Amanda knows sometimes the heroes left at home just need a shoulder to cry on. “When you see her in action, you just know this is a military wife who has it figured out,” a friend wrote. “She has it all balanced so well. I have seen her not only think of her own sailor, but of everyone he is deployed with and their families.” Amanda’s approaches military life with an inspiring flexibility. “Be ready to roll with the punches,” she said. “And remember, like with everything in life, it is what you make it.” 2013 heroes at home

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