May is National Military Appreciation Month – a month dedicated to celebrating and honoring the courageous men and women who have served our country and made incredible sacrifices on our behalf.

As a Navy veteran and proud member of American Legion Post 562 in Cumming, I know firsthand the profound patriotism of America’s veterans.  It is patriotism not of words, but of deeds and sacrifice.  Here in Iowa, veterans come from all walks of life – from farms, small towns, and big cities – but they are united by their shared experience of service to country.

Veterans in our state are also a growing demographic in need of better medical, education, and employment opportunities. Yet those who have put their lives on the line for our freedom often face obstacles to receiving the care they deserve.

Current service members and those who are returning from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq often need specialized assistance to help them acclimate back into Iowa’s communities.  That’s why I’m proud to cosponsor several bills that aim to provide a better support system for our returning veterans. The Wounded Warrior Research Enhancement Act and the Wounded Warrior Workforce Enhancement Act would create programs to improve the quality of life for returning service members injured in the line of duty.  In addition, the Ruth Moore Act is a bill that would require the VA to provide better access to mental health care to victims of military sexual trauma.

I have also taken a stand against for-profit colleges and universities that have aggressively recruited veterans, collected their precious GI benefits, and then failed to deliver on the promise of a quality education.  My work to uncover this waste, fraud, and abuse played a key role in the Executive Order that President Obama signed one year ago to curb such unscrupulous practices, safeguard veteran education benefits and taxpayers, and ensure that veterans have the information, support, and protections they need to make the decision that is best for them.  I have also worked to introduce numerous bills to improve outcomes for veteran students and will continue to support measures that enable veterans to get the very best training and higher education they need to further their career goals.

Honoring our veterans also means ensuring they receive the decorations they have earned.  To obtain lost, stolen or never-received medals, follow these directions and send a letter to one of my state offices requesting that you be issued all your decorations.  Deceased veterans’ family members may also send a letter on behalf of their loved ones.

For more information, please visit http://www.harkin.senate.gov/, or follow Senator Harkin on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/tomharkin and Twitter https://twitter.com/SenatorHarkin.

A PDF version of this article is available by clicking here.

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CHAMPAIGN, IL (05/10/2013)(readMedia)-- Today the U.S. military honors those who do not wear the uniform but who stand beside their servicemembers everyday: military spouses. May 10, Military Spouse Appreciation Day, was established by Ronald Reagan in 1984 and is celebrated the Friday before Mother's Day each year.

Sgt. 1st Class Sean P. Broderick said his wife, Donna K. Broderick, both of Fisher, has proven herself as a spouse who goes above and beyond to make her husband's service to his country possible. Broderick, along with his daughter, Pfc. Kierstin M. Broderick of Urbana both serve in Company B, 634th Brigade Support Battalion in Champaign.

Just four months after they married, Sean deployed to Afghanistan with the 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team in 2008. Donna was left to run the house and take care of their now combined five children.

"I thought deployment, from my perspective, was harder on my wife than it was on me," said Broderick.

Despite the family dynamics, deployment and any other stressors, Sean said Donna held the family together while he was overseas.

"She's pretty awesome," said Sean. "For someone who has never dealt with anything like a deployment, she really held it together. I was really impressed with how she held herself together and dealt with everything."

Donna said the family transition and the deployment was difficult at first, but over time she adapted.

"It was hard enough with our family dynamics because we were combining families, trying to find boundaries with the older kids, working, not knowing what (Sean) was getting himself into, especially after what happened in Iraq in 2005," said Donna.

Sean, a purple heart recipient, was injured in a rocket attack during the 2005 deployment that put him in the hospital for several months.

Donna took on even more responsibility when she took charge of the Family Readiness Group (FRG) just five months ago after the previous leader abruptly stepped down.

"The FRG was so helpful while our Soldiers were gone," said Donna. "It's not like being at a normal military base where your neighbors have Soldiers deployed. You're kind of out there on your own."

Although Military Spouse Appreciation Day has been around for nearly three decades, many servicemembers are not aware of its existence.

"I think it's incredible," said 2nd Lt. Anastasia M. Flanagan of Danville, acting commander of Co. B, 634th BSB. "I think military spouses, especially on the Guard side, are often overlooked. I think this is an excellent program to get the word out that as an Army, in the National Guard, we do appreciate our spouses and we do think they are an invaluable members of the team."

Donna has made progress to improve the FRG after only five months in the leadership role.

"I was immediately impressed with how she brings her ideas into the FRG meetings and is working outside of the two hours that we have our meetings," said Flanagan. "She's working toward trying to have our meetings run efficiently and bring new and fresh ideas. That's been incredible."

Donna is just one of hundreds of thousands of military spouses being honored on Military Spouse Appreciation Day. But to one unit, one husband, and five children, she's invaluable.

ROCHESTER, IL (05/09/2013)(readMedia)-- The bond between a mother and her children is one of the most foundational, yet significant relationships between human beings. This connection is so profound that not even time and distance can separate a mother's love and devotion for her children.

Sgt. 1st Class Sarah J. Campbell, of Rochester, Ill., operations noncommissioned officer (NCO) of the 633rd Theater Gateway Personnel Accountability Team in Springfield, experienced this first hand when she was separated from her two children, Austin and Kiana, 10 and four respectively, while deployed to Kuwait with her unit from June 2012 to March 2013.

"I tried calling them every chance I got," said Campbell. "It was hard sometimes, hearing them continuing on with their day-to-day life and telling me their stories and what they did that day."

Campbell, nearly half the world away, relied on phone conversations and video conferencing to stay connected with her children. Campbell worked the night shift and was able to make calls on her breaks while it was daytime back home.

Campbell said she tried her best to be there for her children and admits she missed out on some things during her nine-month deployment. The most obvious to her were the physical and academic growth of her children.

The deployment was not only challenging for Campbell, but also her children.

"I really missed her," said Austin. "But I think it's cool that she's in the Army because she gets to shoot bazookas."

Although being away was difficult, the deployment to Kuwait provided Campbell time to reevaluate her priorities.

"I got to reflect a lot about my life," said Campbell. "A lot of my reflection had to do with my children. Sometimes life overwhelms you or kind of throws you off track and my deployment really helped me reflect on who I want to be as a person, a mother and Soldier."

It's difficult to balance the commitments of being a mother and Soldier, but Campbell has found a way to mesh the two. Her motherly instincts compelled her unit to give her the nickname of "mother hen" for the way she took charge during training.

"It is difficult juggling National Guard obligations with the responsibility of being a mother, but I feel they do compliment each other at times," said Campbell. "I think being a mother helps me in my role as operations NCO because it's all about taking care of people."

Campbell discovered a lot about herself while on deployment. That time was vital in defining her priorities.

"I would do anything for my children and for the military," said Campbell. "My children will always come first no matter what."

It has been said that the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world. In Campbell's case, ruling the world is not an aspiration, nurturing and protecting is. As a mother first and Soldier second, she has already set a solid example of what that looks like.

Sgt. 1st Class Sarah J. Campbell, from Rochester, operations noncommissioned officer of the 633rd Theater Gateway Personnel Accountablity Team in Springfield, and her children, Kiana and Austin, have fun at the Rochester Community Park May 6 in Rochester, Ill.  Photo by Sgt. Jesse Houk, 139th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

SPRINGFIELD, IL (05/08/2013)(readMedia)-- The Illinois National Guard will celebrate its 290th birthday. The Illinois National Guard Command Historian, Adriana Schroeder of Springfield recently discovered evidence of the first muster of militia, the precursor to the Illinois National Guard. Re-enactor in period uniforms will demonstrate equipment and weapons from the 1700s and an official proclamation signed by Gov. Pat Quinn will be read during the ceremony.

WHO:

• Brig. Gen. William Cobetto, Assistant Adjutant General –Air

• Illinois National Guard Soldiers and Airmen

• Illinois National Guard and Militia Historical Society Living History Detachment

• School Children from throughout Sangamon County

WHAT:

• The Illinois National Guard will celebrate its 290th birthday.

• The birth date of the Illinois National Guard, May 9, 1723 was determined last year after months of research by Adriana Schroeder of Springfield, the Illinois National Guard Command Historian.

• An official proclamation of the birthday, signed by Gov. Pat Quinn, will be read during the ceremony.

• Re-enactors from the Illinois National Guard and Militia Historical Society’s Living History Detachment in period uniforms will display uniforms, equipment and weapon from the 1700s.

WHEN: Thursday May 09, 2013 at 01:00PM Central Time (US & Canada)

WHERE:Illinois State Military Museum
1301 N. MacArthur Blvd
Springfield, Illinois 62702