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ABA Salutes Sarah Smiley

April 5, 2006 - American Basketball Association (ABA) News Release


Pensacola, FL. The ABA salutes Sarah Smiley for her columns written about military life and for being a military spouse. We would also like to recognize all military spouses, for their dedication to their country and support for their active duty spouses.

"Since the onset of the ABA's not-for-profit Salute program in October, 2005, we have been writing "salutes" in recognition of brave acts and stellar performances committed by a service member, and to recognize individuals or organizations for their hard work and support for the military. However, we have failed to recognize some of the most important people - the military spouses," said Jennifer Hester, ABA Salute coordinator. "I must confess a bit of embarrassment for not thinking of this sooner since I am a military spouse. I am not trying to pat myself on the back. I am simply aware of the hardships we face as military spouses and the unusual circumstances in which we live our lives. Circumstances many in the military community could never understand. The old saying, "You do not know until you have walked a mile in my shoes," truly applies in this case. I was in the midst of writing my own Salute to military spouses when I came upon this article from Sarah Smiley, published in the Pensacola News Journal. I think Sarah sums up my feeling and that of all military spouses, so I will let her words stand as our "Salute." She writes:

"Probably more than any other group of people, military spouses are scholled in the art of patience. We have learned to be flexible and to endure because we are married into a system that for all its structure still is quite unpredictable. We've learned to be prepared for short-notice moves, unexpected separations and deployments that last longer than planed. We've grown used to long stretches of time when we can't speak to our spouses. And we've embraced ourselves for the ultimate shock: an officer standing at our door.

So, while the rest of the world debates the war in Iraq and grows impatient for the troops to return, we spouses wait patiently - tolerantly - because we know the work our loved ones do and can't be measured in 30-second sound bits and headlines that change with each coming day. This is precisely what sets military families apart from the rest. I can't help but laugh when I hear the media say that America is ready for the war to end so our service members can return home to their families. Any military spouse knows an end to the war in Iraq doesn't necessarily mean an end to our loved ones' sacrifices.

Serving in the military is my husband's job. The hardships his duty entails don't cease during peacetime. Yes, troops will come home when the war has ended. But soon those troops will turn around and deploy again, maybe not to Iraq, and maybe not to a war, but they will deploy nevertheless. When the active duty military members return from Iraq, they won't suddenly have 9-to-5 jobs and be around for all their children's birthdays again. To think otherwise is to be unaware of the daily sacrifices our military personnel make every single day.

Indeed, for the families waiting bck home, there is infintesimal difference between the sacrificres made during a wartime deployment and those made during one, which is "routine." Yes, there is more stress and more to worry about when a loved one is deployed to a war, but in general, the livesw of military spouses have not changed very much since before the war in Iraq began. I say this with caution, of course, because for the woman who has lost her husband in the war, life has changed incredibly. But for the most part, this is our daily life. This is what our spouses do. The only difference today is that more people care, and there is increased attention from the media. Members of the media ask me, "How many times has your husband deployed to a war?" And I dodge the question, not because I'm being elusive, but rather, I think it shouldn't matter. In fact, my husband has only deployed during wartime. But does that make my sacrifices more relevant than my mothers, when her husband (my dad) had been at sea for 11 years (most of them "routine") by the time they reached their 22nd wedding anniversary?

Just the other day, a reporter asked me, "Are you anxious for the war in Iraq to be over so your husband doesn't have to deploy any more? I couldn't help it. I laughed out loud. Who says my husband won't deploy? If I've learned anything during my time as a military wife, it is this: Nothing is guaranteed. the only way my husband won't "have to deploy anymore" is if he gets out of the military completely. For military spouses, the cycle of deployments, missed holidays, lonely anniversaries and long separations aren't governed by any war or what's being debated on CNN. It is as much a part of our daily living as weekend business trips and conference calls are to the average businessperson. It is part of the job description. And thank goodness, my husband has a job whether there is a war or not.

So, don't have pity for us. Don't wish an end to the war for our sakes. Instead, have appreciation. Be in awe that servicemen and women of the United States are deployed every day of every year. War or no war. And their families are waiting month after month during routine and wartime deployments. Remember that just as our service member counterparts have been trained for duty, we have been trained for patience. And that's something the rest of America could stand to learn as well."

"Sarah Smiley, besides being a Military Wife, Mother and Columnist, is also an Author. You may read more of Sarah's columns by logging onto www.pensacolanewsjournal.com . Thank you Sarah for all you do to raise awareness for our military and for your dedication to your country and support for your husband. I enjoy your columns thoroughly and often chuckle, think, "You got that right Sister," or "Amen, tell them like it is and of course, always smile (No pun intended). Both the military and civilian communities often overlook the plight of the military spouse. I have been a Marine wife for 19 years and have endured most of this time having my husband in harms way and physically absent. There is really no one quite like the military spouse. We all deserve a medal," added Ms. Hester.

The ABA Salutes all military spouses and recognizes you for your patriotism, patience, dedication and sacrifice. We know the active duty member could not do his or her job without your support and love. Ms. Hester concluded, "I write this as the Blue Angels fly over my house reminding me of a sign outside of New River Air Station in Jacksonville, NC which reads: "Pardon our noise. It is the sound of freedom." The work of our troops is never done. If not deployed they are training and always ready to defend and protect in a moments notice. Freedom is not free."

Salute is a non-profit program designed by the ABA to help support our military and their families. We raise money through the sale of our own Salute logo-brand merchandise, ABA sports memorabilia auctions and raffles performed at ABA games Our funds raised help support other military organizations and scholarships for our troops and their families. Please visit our site, www.abasalute.com or email Jennifer Hester, ABA Salute Coordinator at jennifer@abasalute.com or visit www.abalive.com.

Note: OurSports Central no longer actively covers the American Basketball Association (ABA) as a professional league due in part to its inability to publish and play a schedule and the transitory nature of many of its teams. For information on professional minor leagues, please see OSC's basketball section.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


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