Group Offering Support To Military Families

Help is available for Green Country families with loved ones serving overseas.  The News On 6's Dan Bewley reports the Get Connected Family Support program is a month old, but already reaching out to the families of those wearing the red, white and blue.  The count of U.S. troops in Iraq has reached 160,000.  The most since the war began five years ago. 

Within the next year Oklahoma will send another 2,000 troops, many of those from Green Country representing 45th Infantry Division, leaving behind wives, husbands, children, moms and dads.

"So we've got to figure out a way to tell people that it is okay to talk to someone," said Beverly Moore with the Associated Centers for Therapy.

Moore hopes she has found a way, a bi-monthly meeting for anyone with a loved one serving in the military and a chance to talk and overcome fear.

"If they want to know about military terminology so they can better understand what their loved one's talking about when they do get to talk to them. If they want to know how do I deal with worry and concern," said Moore.

Some say the outcome is less of a burden.

"Just talking about those things is a burden off your shoulders. It helps you to just deal rather than sit at home and cry or sit at home and worry," said Tracy Lewis.

Lewis knows that fear, first hand.  Her brother-in-law is a career Marine.  Images from the Middle East can be hard for family and friends to watch, she says. Adding, family members can easily feel isolated which is where support groups like this play a big role.

"It's wonderful because you can come and talk to other people and you know you're not alone," said Lewis.

Kathy Ott agrees, the Blue Star Mom says anything done to help the homefront goes a long way.

"This is just another outlet and you can't have too much support when your son or daughter is in Iraq or Afghanistan fighting for their country," said Ott.

All of the meetings are at the Nathan Hale Library on East 23rd Street.  The next one is scheduled for January 26th at 10:00 a.m.  After that, the meetings are held on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month.  The support group is free for anyone who has a loved one serving in the military.