[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 79 (Monday, May 14, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S6050]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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               NATIONAL MILITARY SPOUSES APPRECIATION DAY

 Mr. CRAPO. Madam President, Friday, May 11, 2007, was National 
Military Spouses Day. Oftentimes, those who are, as the saying goes, 
``married to the military'' are not recognized for the support they 
provide and sacrifice they endure during the time of their spouses' 
active duty service. Certainly when a member is deployed, but 
throughout a military member's career, the strength and support of a 
wife or husband can make the difference between success or failure for 
that individual and that family. Military spouses endure the hardship 
of separation from loved ones, frequently take on the role of a single 
parent, and move more often than most civilians throughout the course 
of a military career. They receive no commendation medals and few 
accolades, save the gratitude of an exhausted spouse who comes home to 
a warm embrace and nurturing bond after a long deployment or simply 
another late night at work. Military spouses are truly war's unsung 
heroes. In addition to a job they may have outside the home, they are 
teacher, chief consoler, housekeeper, accountant, taxi driver, cook, 
referee and nurse. They encounter their own battles bravely, with 
efficiency, expertise and stubborn persistence supporting our Nation in 
their daily challenges every bit as valiantly as our military members 
do.
  I commend the over 1,000 military spouses in or from Idaho and U.S. 
military spouses worldwide and thank them for their service to our 
Nation, sacrifice and patriotism. Our country, but most importantly 
their families, need their strength. We all depend on it.

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