Yesterday, I had the honor of being on a conference call with Suzi Hackett. Suzi is a fascinating woman whose voice I hope we hear a lot more of over the coming months.

A year ago, her husband was serving in Iraq. He did not get to see his children dressed up for a Christmas pageant or see his youngest son’s first Christmas. He had been honorably discharged from the marines in 1999, but he could not sit by as his brothers in arms served in Iraq, so he volunteered and returned to duty.

Unlike families of service men and women in active duty, Suzi wasn’t living amidst other military families. She was isolated and didn’t have the sort of support that other military families have. Unfortunately, there are many people in Suzi’s situation. Spouses of reservists and those serving in the National Guard too often do not have the same sort of support structures that other military families have.