By Jeff Marchesseault

GUAM - President Obama's proclamation making November 'Military Family Month' is probably fitting since November 11th is Veterans Day, a holiday in which families can take special pride in supporting their loved ones serving in the armed forces.

But the proclamation signing and Obama's statement that a policy of respecting and supporting military families "is a top priority for my administration," is a reminder to federal and local officials alike that members of the Guam Army National Guard, Guam Air National Guard and the Guam men and women assigned to Reserve Units deserve nothing less than the same level of respect and support -- and so do the families that support these courageous individuals.

When an active-duty servicemember returns from a hot zone or has had a particularly difficult day on the job, they have a military support network and, in many cases, a family that is integrated into that system to fall back on when the going gets tough. And often those priceless resources are readily available to the servicemember because they are actively integrated into the servicemember's home 'base' environment. Military bases are essentially towns that are parts of a larger network of such towns with the procedures, protocols and practical mentoring tools pre-franchised to help the enlisted person cope.

Inasmuch as Veterans Day is "a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace", we also must remember that peace comes at a price that must be paid for at the family level by leaders in the positions of influence that can help deliver improved family support services to families with loved ones serving in the National Guard or the Reserves.

Guam Guardsmen and Reservists are a critical part of our nation's, our region's and our island's defense. It is evident in the alert, informed and thoroughly trained way they immediately react to hazards and natural disasters on island and within the Western Pacific, and in the way they honorably serve, risking their lives in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

These brave men and women, these traditional town militiamen whose heritage predates our nation's independence, deserve every bit of respect, honor and support due to anyone sworn to safeguard our lives and our freedom.

Here is a Department of Defense announcement on the Presidential Proclamation making November 'Military Family Day':

President Proclaims November Is Military Family Month

11/2/2009 - WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama pledged his support of military members and their families and said Americans have a "solemn obligation" to preserve their well-being in his proclamation declaring November as Military Family Month.
The proclamation reads:

"No one pays a higher price for our freedom than members of our nation's military and their families. As sons and daughters, husbands and wives, and mothers and fathers are deployed, military families endure with exceptional resilience and courage. They provide our troops with invaluable encouragement and love, and serve our nation in their own right. During Military Family Month, we honor the families of our armed forces and thank them for their dedication to our country.

"Though only a small percentage of our nation's population, our troops bear the great responsibility of protecting our people. They, along with their families, serve us every day with courage and dignity. Ensuring that military families receive the respect they deserve and the support they have earned is a top priority for my administration.

"The strength of our nation is measured not just by our success on the battlefield, but also by our ability to support those families who have made so many sacrifices for us. Time and again, military families have shown their heart in the face of adversity. We have a solemn obligation to ensure that while our men and women in uniform discharge their duties, we do all we can to promote and preserve the well-being of their families. We must also support the families of our wounded warriors and our fallen heroes who have paid the ultimate price for the freedoms we enjoy.

"This month, we celebrate the tremendous contributions of military families, convey to them our deepest respect and appreciation, and recommit ourselves to their support.

"Now, therefore, I, Barack Obama, president of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 2009 as Military Family Month. I call on all Americans to honor military families through private actions and public service for the tremendous contributions they make in the support of our servicemembers and our nation."

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