Friends,
I am not going to sugar-coat things. These last couple of months have been difficult for military families. The world has watched the events in Ukraine unfold with astonishment, disbelief, and sadness. But for military families, the conflict has had a direct impact on their lives. Thousands of military families have already faced the deployment of a loved one, while thousands more prepare to say good-bye.
Our service members are trained for this, and deployments are routine. However, deployments with little notice and into a potential conflict are an entirely different animal. Military children struggle emotionally with a parent no longer there to drop them off at school or tuck them in at night. Military spouses work to keep the household running despite being worried about the safety of their service member across the world. Meanwhile, they watch the same images of bombs falling on Kiev that we see on television and worry about what happens next. This is the reality for military families all over the country. And this is why we are here.
As you know, the Armed Services YMCA continues to provide critical programs and services for military families throughout the country. They depend on us, and we are here for them thanks to supporters like you. Our locations at Fort Bragg, Fort Campbell and Fort Hood have already stepped up their outreach to military families of those soldiers deployed to Eastern Europe to let them know that we there for them today and always. With your help, those soldiers deployed on the frontlines can rest assured that while they are taking care of our families, we will take care of theirs.
Thank you for making a difference in the lives of military families,
Sincerely,
William D. French, Vice Admiral, USN, Ret.
President and CEO, Armed Services YMCA
