Military couples face situations not typically experienced by their civilian counterparts: deployments, frequent moves, job training separations, the list goes on and on. Now, add on top of that the continued uncertainty around COVID-19 and the everyday stresses, work, kids, finances etc. Yet, despite these difficult circumstances many military couples are able to thrive. As we gear up for Valentine’s Day, our Cohen Clinic is sharing lessons in love from military couple staff members that any couple can employ to strengthen their relationship.
Our Outreach Director for the Los Angeles area, Leslie McCaddon, who is also a Gold Star Spouse, shares her story below about the enduring power of love:
"The Queen of England said, in a message to the families of the 250 British victims killed on 9/11, 'Grief is the price we pay for love.' Without love, we would feel no grief. And with love, we risk loss. The loss of someone we love deeply causes a grief so soul-shaking that if you’ve never experienced it, you may not quite be able to imagine it no matter how much I try to find the words to describe it. I met my husband when he was an EOD tech in the Army. We became good friends. And after many years of friendship, we fell in love. We married. We made 3 beautiful babies. He became a physician in the military. And then, 11 years into our marriage, he died. I’m here to say, to have loved Mike is a price I will never regret paying. For the prize of having known a love like Mike’s is worth every penny of my grief. His love continues to be a key influence on who I am today. Love is always worth the risk of loss, for love truly never dies."
