Chamber Recognizes the Service of Military Spouses

In 1984, President Ronald Reagan recognized the profound impact of the commitment of the Military Spouse to the readiness and well-being of military service members. He officially made Military Spouse Appreciation Day part of National Military Appreciation Month in 1999. Subsequently, the Department of Defense standardized the date by declaring the Friday before Mother’s Day every year as “Military Spouse Appreciation Day” to show appreciation for the sacrifices of military spouses. This year it will be observed on Friday, May 8th, 2020. During the 86^th State Legislature, Texas proudly passed S.B. 1819, which officially designated May 8 as Military Spouse Appreciation Day throughout the state in order to recognize the role of wives, husbands, and partners of the brave individuals who serve in the U.S. Armed Forces, including Active, Guard and Reserve components. Your Chamber of Commerce was proud to support this legislation and aims to work toward lifting up the needs of our Military Spouses on this day and throughout the year. On Military Spouse Appreciation Day we honor the contributions and sacrifices made by military spouses. Their commitment helps to keep our country safe and our military “mission ready.” America’s military spouses are the backbone of the families who support our troops during training, deployments, and frequent moves. Military spouses are unsung heroes who are essential to the strength of the nation, and their service cannot be underestimated. You will find Military Spouses everywhere in San Antonio, volunteering in local community organizations, working full time in our businesses, teaching in our schools, and staying home raising future generations of Military leaders. Over the years, Military Spouses have developed businesses that move with them from physical brick and mortar stores to online-based companies. During this critical time of social distancing and the impact on small business, many of our Military spouses are struggling to remain engaged and connected, employed and supported. There are many ways that you can ensure their livelihoods remain:

• Purchase gift cards from military-connected and spouse owned businesses and order online
• Support new ideas and be creative in filling their needs, leverage your resources to support them with in-kind donations
• Share their stories on social media
• Hire a Military Spouse

Although this year’s celebration of our Military Spouses may be different, these are simple ways to show your support and appreciation for them. The military community, non-profits and businesses can show their appreciation for military spouses in many ways by recognizing them through special messages, thanking them sincerely with kind gestures and spreading the word that our Military Spouses are a treasure to our communities and businesses. The San Antonio Chamber of Commerce continues to advocate for hiring Military Spouses and supporting them in their efforts to continue their education, develop transportable careers with ease of credentialing, certifications, and licensing and highlighting their resilience and dedication to any effort they undertake. We want to say “Thank you” to our Military Spouses, today and every day, for all you do to support our Nation’s Finest! For additional ways to support our Military Spouse hiring initiatives, please email Lori Stinson, VP of Military Affairs and Leadership Development, at lstinson@sachamber.org.