Super Tuesday commonly refers to the Tuesday in early February or March of a presidential election year when the largest number of states hold primary elections to select delegates to the national convention at which each party’s presidential candidates are officially nominated. More delegates can be won on Super Tuesday than on any other single day of the primary calendar. Historically, candidates hoping to secure a nomination must do well on this day. This year Super Tuesday is tomorrow, February 5.

What is different about Super Tuesday this year is not just that it is so close to my birthday, but that I am actively paying attention to the debates, the candidates and the platforms leading up to it more than in any other year. I’ve voted in every presidential election since I was legally able to do so. Now, I’m not sure if my interest is because THIS birthday makes me officially old and I’m now supposed to care more, or that voting organizations are doing a better job of marketing to me. The bottom line is that I really care who wins. I care what the candidates stand for, I WANT to know their positions on military issues, I want to know where and how they see my husband and yours serving in another year.

It is why we posted a candidate breakdown on the home page…so we can all see clearly who stands for what. We called the candidates’ offices, spoke to several of them, received emails from a few, but outlined each one’s agenda for us all to review.

I’ve researched, watched the news, read the papers and talked to friends. I’ve decided the best way for me to vote my conscience this election year is to inform myself. I will not be swayed by military nay-sayers—the ones who haven’t walked a foot (never mind a mile) in my shoes or my husband’s.

I am determined to make the best possible decision I can with the information I have at the time. The freedom to vote and choose our leaders is one of many rights and luxuries our Military-Americans fight to preserve. What I will not do is make an uninformed choice. Who we choose to lead our nation next is a very important responsibility-one we should not take lightly.

THIS time it matters. It matters a lot.