Blue Star Stories
Meet the Illinois Army National Guard MFRs
Needless to say, 2020 was a year like no other. The year had a particular impact on one segment of the American public: those serving in uniform and their families. Did you know that, based on Blue Star Families’ annual Military Family Lifestyle Survey, more than half (55%) of National Guard family respondents and a…
Read moreHere’s How to Get Free Starbucks Coffee for You, Veteran (and Family)!
There are days when military life’s got you feeling like… via GIPHY … because, seriously, we deal with some stressful stuff, y’all! But even if you’re no longer active duty, you know what we’re talking about because you’ve been there, done that (hello, nine moves and six deployments!). Here at Blue Star Families we’re forever…
Read moreMeet Courtney: #BSFBeatCOVID19
Meet Courtney: #BSFBeatCOVID19 Meet Courtney. She’s a proud Army Spouse, mom of two, a DOD civilian registered dental hygienist, and a military child as well. Courtney is no stranger to the unpredictability of military life and prides herself on being able to roll with the punches. But this past year has really tested her mental…
Read morePresidential Volunteer Service Awards for Blue Star Families in 2020
Nothing Can Stop These Dedicated Volunteers Blue Star Families volunteers do it all—from planning special events to helping us tell their Blue Star Families stories, and leading activities for military families across the nation and around the world. Despite a global pandemic, these volunteers stepped up and continued to support military families, and they deserve…
Read moreMeet Madeline: Month Of The Military Child
Meet Madeline: Month Of The Military Child Meet Madeline. She’s a #MilKid whose great grandfather served in the Marine Corps, and grandfather and dad served in the Navy. Madeline is following in their footsteps to continue her family’s long history of service as a Naval Academy grad, and she and her husband are currently serving…
Read moreNeed a Hand Organizing A Homeschool Space For Your MilFam?
Need a Hand Organizing A Homeschool Space For Your MilFam? Military life is problematic because it’s unpredictable. Things like frequent moves put massive stress on the entire family unit. To reduce stress with moves and eliminate the concern of enrolling military kids in new schools each time, many military families rely on homeschooling. In fact,…
Read moreFun Ways to Celebrate Earth Day on April 22nd With Your Family!
Spring has sprung, and that means Earth Day (Thursday, April 22) is just around the corner! Did you know there were very few laws protecting the environment in the United States before the 1970s? The first Earth Day was organized on April 22, 1970, as a way of celebrating the environment and bringing awareness to…
Read moreBlue Star Community Changemaker: Meet Mitch
Blue Star Community Changemaker: Meet Mitch Delivered by CSX Pride in Service Did you know that only one in four active-duty family respondents told Blue Star Families in the 2020 Military Family Lifestyle Survey they feel a sense of belonging to their local civilian community? In fact, one-third say they have no friends in…
Read moreMeet Kathleen: Month of the Military Child
Meet Kathleen: Month of the Military Child Meet Kathleen. She grew up as a Milkid, and now she’s a Blue Star Families fellow doing big things. Both of Kathleen’s parents served in the military before retiring in 2008. After their retirement, her family remained connected to the military, keeping Kathleen grounded in the hardworking military…
Read moreA Virtual Survey Release & Connecting Communities
Did you know that only 27% of active-duty family respondents feel a sense of belonging in their local civilian community? Understanding how military families are feeling is just the first step Blue Star Families is taking to paint a robust picture of what life is like for those who serve and help civilian communities better…
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