MIDDLETOWN, Ohio — It is officially military “Welcome Week” across the country.
It’s an effort to help military families moving into new communities.
One veteran’s spouse in southwest Ohio said she wanted to be a part of it after what happened to her family.
Geri Maples knew she married a man in the military, but what she didn’t know at first was everything that would come with it.
“Deployments are the toughest because you’re separated, you’re not there for holidays, you’re not there for birthdays, those are really tough, but also transitioning back,” said Maples.
Her husband, Robert, a retired Army National Guardsman, served overseas in 2003. When he came back a year later, she said he had a traumatic brain injury.
“It was scary because I made a phone call and I realized that here’s my husband, I see him struggling, all these symptoms I don’t understand are surfacing, and the lady on the other end of the line said, ‘I’m sorry honey, I can’t help you because your husband is no longer in the military,’” said Geri.
That’s why now she’s trying to help other military caregivers, veterans and military families going through the same struggle.
“One of the things I did was make it my mission to give back to families like ours, and raise that understanding; and when I had the opportunity to join the Blue Star Families team, I knew,” said Geri.
Geri’s leading the Blue Star Families chapter in Southwest Ohio. It’s a group that supports military families.
She has a room full of donations to help.
She plans to give it out during this special week recognized by the state called “Welcome Week.” It’s an effort to connect military families to their new communities after they move.
Activities and gifts to keep families together are also planned to help ease that tough transition Geri Maples knows all too well.
“Welcome Week” is going on now through Oct. 2.
To see all of the planned activities and see how you can be a part of them, visit their Facebook page.
