Every November, our country pauses to honor something truly profound: National Veterans and Military Families Month. Veterans Day gives us the opportunity to thank the brave men and women who served, but this month-long observance widens the lens. It invites us to look closely at the people whose love and commitment make that service possible – the families who carry the weight of military life right alongside their veteran.
Military families know what sacrifice really feels like. They have watched loved ones board planes for deployments with a brave smile, even as their hearts clenched. They have packed entire households on short notice, started over in new towns again and again, and held steady during long stretches of silence when communication was scarce. They have celebrated the homecomings, endured the goodbyes, and kept life moving forward in the in-between. Through all of it, they remain the constant – the steady heartbeat of support that service members lean on more than words can ever express.
At the Farmer Veteran Coalition (FVC), we see these families in their next chapter – when the uniform is folded away, and a new mission begins. Many veterans turn to farming because it blends purpose with healing, structure with freedom, hard work with hope. But what we witness time and time again is that the journey into agriculture is rarely taken alone. Behind almost every Farmer Veteran is a spouse who believed in them, a child who cheered them on, or a parent who showed up ready to help.
Families give veterans the courage to try. They help with decisions, finances, chores, long days, and early mornings. They turn uncertainty into possibility. They turn a single veteran’s dream into a shared family vision. And in the process, they rediscover connection, strength, and direction – together.
National Veterans and Military Families Month has recognized this since 1996, reminding us that military service is not a solo experience; it is lived by whole families. This month honors the spouses who shoulder the burdens of deployment, the parents who stand proudly behind their sons and daughters, and the children who learn resilience far earlier than most. Their sacrifices, though quieter, echo just as loudly in the story of our nation’s freedom.
Here at FVC, this month carries deep meaning. We meet families who continue to serve their communities through agriculture. The walls of our office proudly display them planting seeds, raising livestock, and feeding their neighbors. Their service simply takes a new form, grounded in stewardship, and rooted in a new passion.
As we move through November, a season of reflection and gratitude, we offer our heartfelt thanks to every veteran and every family walking this path. Your courage, patience, and resilience inspire us. You remind us that healing often happens in the places where we work side by side with the people we love most.
And as we look toward Thanksgiving, may we all take a moment to recognize the blessings around us. Each of us has something to be grateful for – mostly our family and friends who believe in us and walk this journey of life alongside us every day.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Jeanette Lombardo
