Today, May 9, is National Military Spouse Appreciation Day, appropriately observed annually on the Friday before Mother’s Day. In Proclamation 5184 of April 17, 1984, President Ronald Reagan acknowledged the countless sacrifices and contributions made by military spouses since the days of the Continental Army and Navy in putting aside their personal and professional aspirations for a spouse service member. In 1999, Congress made Military Spouse Appreciation Day part of National Military Appreciation Month throughout May.

America’s military spouses are the backbone of the families who support our troops during mission, deployment, reintegration, and reset. Military spouses are silent heroes who are essential to the nation’s strength, and they serve our country just like their loved ones.

Last year at this same time, BVA Happenings honored the loyalty and service of two military spouses among the Association’s National Headquarters staff, Kylie FitzGerald and Andrea Malmer. We do so again, at the same time recognizing their dedication and tenure of five-plus years with the Blinded Veterans Association as they also support their spouses. Two dedicated current BVA volunteers, Robert Murphy and Jeanie Murphy, respectively the BVA Auxiliary National President and BVA’s Heartland Regional Group President, were both military spouses, and of one another!