We appreciate military spouses

In 1984, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the Friday before Mother's Day to be Military Spouse Appreciation Day. Since then, succeeding presidents have continued to honor the spouses of our service men and women. Today, I want to encourage everyone to take a moment to reflect upon and appreciate all the sacrifices our military spouses and families make every day, supporting our soldiers and airmen.

America's military spouses inspire our nation with their sense of duty and deep devotion to our country. On Military Spouse Day, we honor the husbands and wives of those who wear the uniform of the U.S. armed forces. The husbands and wives of our service members have made significant sacrifices for freedom's cause, and they are an integral part of the success of our armed forces. The soldiers and airmen of the Illinois National Guard could not continue to serve without the support of their families.

Today, there are more than 600 Illinois Guard soldiers and airmen on duty in Iraq, Afghanistan and other foreign countries, like Kosovo.

While our soldiers and airmen are serving, their spouses and family members keep things running at home, taking on tasks that before had been shared between two people. Those jobs are much more difficult than anyone who has not been there can imagine.

William L. Enyart

Major General (IL), ILARNG

The Adjutant General

Springfield