United States soldiers carry two powerful loyalties all year long..

United States soldiers carry two powerful loyalties all year long, love of country and love of family, but the holidays make that tension feel especially sharp. While many Americans gather around familiar tables, countless service members spend this season in barracks, on ships, or in distant places, missing the very people and traditions that shaped who they are.

From childhood friends who shared playgrounds, classrooms, prom nights, and church pews, to parents and grandparents who taught them their first prayers and family recipes, these are the bonds that sit heavy on a soldier’s heart when the holidays come and they cannot go home. Even when leave is possible, many young soldiers simply cannot afford the cost of travel, and others are restricted by mission requirements, policies, and regulations that keep them in place while life goes on.

The emotional toll is real. Deployed and remote service members report loneliness, homesickness, stress, and even guilt when they miss major milestones, family gatherings, and yearly traditions that once anchored their sense of belonging. Yet in the middle of that ache, something beautiful often rises: fellow soldiers step in to create a “home away from home,” inviting each other into unit parties, shared meals, and makeshift celebrations that become a second kind of family.

This is where small acts from the outside world matter more than most people realize. Organizations like Operation Gratitude and similar programs send handwritten letters, holiday cards, and care packages that remind service members they are seen, valued, and not forgotten. A simple greeting card, warm letter, or small gift can turn an ordinary duty day into a lifeline of encouragement, especially for the soldier who feels alone in a crowded barracks.​ Anyone can help.

Communities can “adopt” troops or military families for the holidays, churches can organize card-writing drives, schools can have students create handmade notes, and individuals can give through reputable organizations that support deployed troops and their loved ones. These gestures do not erase the sacrifice or replace the empty chair at home, but they do what love always does best. They close the distance, one thoughtful act at a time.

Denise L. Townsend