With the election over and the holidays giving us a pleasant cozy-feeling buzz (nevermind that mine was achieved with some wine after visiting relatives went to bed), we now have an opportunity to highlight what citizenship means in this country and expand what is expected of us as benefactors of living in this wonderful nation.

As military families we already know what it means to serve. We know that volunteerism is what sustains this country. It is our responsibility to share that message with others. We need to get out in our communities and encourage the message of inclusion, public service, and altruism that benefits everyone in our society. We are one nation and we need each other. We need each other now more than ever.

Since 1994 the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday has been designated a national day of community service to honor a man who lived his life in service to others. This year’s National Day of Service will fall on January 19^th.

So, how can you get involved directly?

The most comprehensive site where you can look up ways to get involved locally on National Service Day is being maintained here: http://my.mlkday.gov/public/indexSearch.aspx

Please check back frequently as new events are being planned every day.

As military families we are in a special position to encourage others to donate their time, energy, money, and spirit to make this country a better place to live for ourselves and our future generations. While our military members are most noted for protecting our rights and freedoms…their service also demands from us the responsibility of making this country a land where freedom engenders a sense of duty to do what one can to strengthen our communities so that we may all truly live out the American Dream.