Proposed Military Spouses and Families Day receives House OK

A law enacted last year made Minnesota the first state to designate October as Veteran’s Voices Month to heighten awareness of veterans in the state.

Rep. Kathy Lohmer (R-Stillwater) thinks spouses and families of military members should not be forgotten.

Rep. Kathy Lohmer

She sponsors HF450 that would designate the Sunday before Memorial Day as Military Spouses and Families Day. Minnesota would be the second state with such a designation. The governor shall issue a proclamation each year honoring this observance.

Passed 128-0 by the House Tuesday, the bill goes to the Senate where it is sponsored by Sen. Karin Housley (R-St. Marys Point).

“These are the unrecognized heroes who are home giving birth, going to PTA meetings, mowing grass, shoveling snow, working, paying the bills, repairing and maintaining the home, going to weddings and funerals alone,” Lohmer said. “This bill is simply a thank you. … On Military Spouses and Families Day we celebrate the force behind the force and show these Minnesota heroes and families the full support from our whole state.”

Added Rep. Bob Dettmer (R-Forest Lake): “Our families are the ones taking care of the home front.”

Kendra Lohmer is the daughter-in-law of Rep. Lohmer. Her husband, Chris, is a U.S. Army officer who has served two tours in Iraq. She testified in February before the House Veterans Affairs Division in support of the bill.

“There are big events that he has missed and things that I have missed him for while he’s been deployed, one of which was missing our first five months of our first pregnancy,” she said.  “I can speak on behalf of my husband; he would love a day to thank his force here at home and I know our veterans would love that chance to thank their at-home spouse. That force at home makes them stronger.”