Blue Star Stories

Leaning In To Military Moms’ Experience To Better the Community

Military moms hold a lot of influence, and for one of Blue Star Families’ newest recruits, they’re the reason she still stands. Play Now Mickia Freeman joins the 2022-2023 class of DEPLOY (Diversify and Expand the Pipeline Of Leaders Of Your Military Community) Fellows, serving the Tampa Chapter. She credits her mother and the countless…

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Appreciation for a Life in the Military

Did you know that around 1% or less of the U.S. population serves in the military? This means many people don’t understand modern military life and the challenges and opportunities associated with it. Many civilians think only of war or deployments when they think of the military. But it’s far from just that! While we…

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One Way Veteran & Military Families Can Save Big on Your Holiday Groceries at Amazon

Did you know? In a 2020 study, one in seven enlisted military families reported experiencing food insecurity. Now more than ever, with the rising cost of food and the expensive holiday season in full effect, our Blue Star Partners, like the Amazon Community Access Team, are asking how they can help those in need. Together…

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Celebration Serves Up New Favorites, Toasts Lifetime Friends

Can Celebration get any more magical? It’s a question fitting for a night that was put on pause for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But as they say, absence makes the heart grow fonder. Here are some highlights from Blue Star Celebration 2022. Leading with an Emcee VIP CNN broadcaster, Blue Star Families…

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Salesforce Lends Tech Support in the Campaign for Inclusion

“I think it is always important to be able to see yourself reflected. When you see yourself reflected in Military Support Organizations, you feel included.” – Angela Alford, Salesforce DEPLOY Fellow Play Now In the midst of a pandemic, military spouse Angela found herself without a career or community. Her family had just transitioned from…

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Everyday Hope for Service Families: The CSX Commitment

Since 2019, CSX has joined forces with Blue Star Families in their commitment to serving military and Veteran families.  Currently, CSX sponsors eight of Blue Star Families’ 12 Chapters, including Chicago, Tampa, Jacksonville, New England, Tennessee, Dayton & Southwestern Ohio, Baltimore, and the National Capital Region. The newest addition, New England, will connect and engage…

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The Effects of Suicide and How Blue Star Families is Working to Make a Difference

Warning: This post contains language that may be triggering for some. If you or someone you know is at risk of harming themselves, please call 988. Written by Kimberly Gold, 2022-2023 Housing Insecurity DEPLOY Fellow We all have dates that have changed us.  February 1st, 2012.  The start of a new month.  It was a…

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Military Family Gives to Their Community & Gets a Huge Surprise in Return from Wide Receiver Justin Jefferson

For Marie, an Army National Guard Staff Sergeant,  and her husband Dustin, a Veteran, serving the country has always been at the forefront of what they do. Together, the couple has served for over 18 years. When she’s not serving in the National Guard, Marie is still an integral part of her community. She is…

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Ellyn Dunford’s Lifetime Achievement Award Win is a Victory for All Military Spouses

Meet Ellyn Dunford, spouse of the 19th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Ret.) Gen. Joseph Dunford.  At this year’s Blue Star Celebration, she was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award for consistently making a difference in the lives of military families – decade after decade.  Not only has she been right there at…

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11 Military Family Appreciation Month Deals & Discounts

Most Veterans and military families are intimately familiar with Veterans Day and the ensuing discounts on November 11th. But did you know November is also Military Family Appreciation Month? Every year, the president signs a proclamation declaring November Military Family Month, encouraging our nation to recognize and honor American service members and their families.  As…

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