 While those brave soldiers are away fighting, there is another
struggle for those left here on our home front. It is the spouses
and children left to carry the load of everyday life alone. And
then, their loved one returns home, not just home from a job at the
office, but home from the battlegrounds.
Justin Anweiler, a lieutenant with the Illinois Army National
Guard, is working hard with other soldiers throughout Illinois to
raise the community awareness that is needed for families during the
deployment, and also once the deployment is over.
Last Thursday evening, Anweiler and several other National Guard
soldiers were present at Jefferson Street Christian Church to
address the community of Logan County and let them know what the
needs really are.
"We are raising the awareness," says Anweiler, "to educate the
community on the needs of the family members while their loved one
is gone." When you know someone who has had to see their loved one
off to war, Anweiler says, "Don't ask them, ‘How is he/she doing
over there?' You need to be asking, ‘How are you doing right now?'"
Anweiler says the purpose of this is to educate and empower
soldiers to successfully transition from warrior to citizen soldier
in their families and communities. And, Anweiler stresses, "Support
the husbands and wives while we are gone and when we come home. Care
packages are fantastic for us while we are gone. When we get back,
we still need care."
There are three areas to concentrate on for successful
integration. Those areas are community, family and soldier.
Anweiler feels that if the family members are cared for during
the deployment period, the reintegration afterward is easier.
When discussing community involvement, that is where it hits home
for Lt. Col. Alicia Tate-Nadeau, who is the director of public
affairs for the Illinois National Guard. She is also the deputy
brigade commander for the 404th Chemical Brigade out of Chicago.
When Tate-Nadeau was deployed back in May 2006, she saw the benefit
of community involvement firsthand. "I was blessed with so much
community support, and I couldn't be successful without it," she
says. "I want to see more awareness."
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She adds, "At this point, if you know anyone in the active military,
you know someone who has been deployed, coming back from deployment
or prepping to leave soon. Almost everyone is affected right now."
Also present on Thursday evening were several organizations to
offer education and resources for the soldiers and their families.
Among them was the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs to offer
more information on the Montgomery GI Bill. Others were the Peoria
Vet Center and Springfield Vet Center, which offer readjustment
counseling services. Lincoln Land Community College and the American
Red Cross were also represented.
Mark Patterson, who is a Veterans' Affairs officer, comes to the
Lincoln Oasis every Tuesday to offer information and help lead Logan
County veterans in the right direction for financial and educational
assistance and several other services as needed.
Anweiler says, "Reintegration is a process that requires training
and support long after the yellow ribbons are untied."
The Illinois Army National Guard has a goal to reach every county
in Illinois with this program in the next year and a half.
To find out more on how you can help, you may contact Jefferson
Street Christian Church at 732-9294 and ask to be connected with the
Good Samaritan outreach group regarding community help with military
families.
[Janell Woolard]
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