A Little About the Author of This Blog

I probably should have made this my first post but I got so caught up in my sincere interest to provide information to  deal with deployments and handle homecomings. My passion is families, particularly military families. 

My dad's retirement ceremony November 2010. From left to right:
Mom; Nancy, sister: Katrina, brother; Giusto, Me, brother; Giovanni,
brother; Gino, brother; Giorgio, my dad's mom; Sharon, and my dad; Kevin. 

What makes me such an expert? Well I, myself grew up in a military family. My dad was in the U.S. Air Force for 26 years. As a result my mom, five siblings and I got to travel, experience a unique lifestyle living overseas, in Japan, for 6 years, and we made friends with other military families from all over the world. 

In my humble opinion a military lifestyle has many more advantages than disadvantages. 

Yeah, we had to deal with the fear when my dad got deployed to several places such as Afghanistan, and different locations in Africa and Southeast Asia. He has missed several birthdays, school functions and achievements, and other meaningful moments like Thanksgiving and Christmas. The planes he flies on do get shot at and the bases where he gets deployed to do get bombed frequently. 

Somehow, everything turns out okay. We will never stop worrying or ever take for granted the life we live or those who protect our freedoms. My deepest condolences go to those whose lives haven't been as positively affected by the military, but no matter what you're never alone. There are so many support groups, volunteers/donors, non-profit organizations such as the USO, counseling services, and other military members and dependents who are going through the same things and can and will be there for you. That's why I'm writing this blog to show that you're not alone and I support you and your sacrifices.