This weekend, two deeply meaningful commemorations converge—Military Spouse Appreciation Day on May 9th, and Mother’s Day on May 11th. At Roll Call Chicagoland, we pause to recognize and honor not only military spouses and mothers but the vast, often unseen network of individuals whose steady presence and daily acts of love, labor, and loyalty form the backbone of our military and veteran communities.
Military spouses are often the unsung heroes of service life. They hold families together through long deployments, missed milestones, and late-night uncertainties. They become household CEOs, financial managers, solo parents, and emotional anchors while their loved ones are far from home. Their strength is quiet and unwavering. Their service, though not sworn or worn in uniform, remains vital to the mission. At Roll Call, we welcome them—as essential members of the military community we serve.
Yet we know families come in many forms. Not everyone is a spouse. Not everyone is a mother. And many people’s relationships with these roles are layered, complex, or filled with absence. So today, we extend our deepest gratitude to the many others who offer care and connection to service members and veterans: grandparents raising children during deployments; siblings sending care packages; mentors offering career guidance; therapists and counselors helping carry the mental and emotional load; friends showing up with meals, rides, or simply an open door. You are all part of this circle of care.
Some of those we honor today are service members themselves—juggling dual-military households or carrying their own burdens while lifting up others. Others are survivors—of war, of loss, of trauma—who continue to give anyway. Many are parents raising children in an age of constant conflict, and still manage to instill hope, stability, and joy. These stories, too, deserve to be seen and uplifted.
That’s why, at every Roll Call event, you’ll find spouses, parents, partners, caretakers, friends, and allies sitting shoulder to shoulder with veterans and service members. Because when we say community, we mean everyone who shows up. Everyone who listens. Everyone who stays. This weekend, we honor your sacrifices, your strength, and your steadfastness. Thank you for standing beside us.