MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan — Iwakuni’s Marine Corps Community Services honored military spouses Friday in observance of National Military Spouses’ Appreciation Day during a special luncheon at Club Iwakuni.
Former President Reagan proclaimed the official day of recognition in 1984, which he designated as the first Friday before Mother’s Day each year.
MCCS provided the free luncheon and flowers for all military spouses who wanted to attend “because we thought it would be a nice way to show appreciation,” said Ashleigh Pipes, MCCS spokeswoman.
About 150 spouses attended along with family and friends, she added, making for “a terrific turnout.”
In four years of marriage, Gunnery Sgt. Glenn Carpenter and wife Resa have added a young son, with another child on the way, she said.
“I have a perspective from both sides because I was a Marine for eight years and have been married to one the last four years,” Resa Carpenter said after the luncheon. “You have to realize that servicemembers have to have a level of dedication to the job that must be a 24/7 commitment.
“I have lived on three other bases so far, and this is the first time I’ve seen a point made to express such appreciation for spouses,” Carpenter said. “I think it was long overdue.”
Navy Lt. Cyndie Norris, a women’s health nurse at Iwakuni’s Navy Branch Medical Clinic, is married to another military member, Capt. Russ Norris who is with Iwakuni’s Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron. “The biggest part of it is having understanding and patience. Serving the military is not a five-day-a-week, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. job. Your spouse could be gone for long periods of time and you just have to understand that,” Cyndie Norris said.
With the couple both in the military and responsible for two children, taking care of family matters can be quite a trick.
“You have to maintain a very fine balance between the two of you as far as taking care of the family,” she said. “It has to be a 50:50 situation. Russ is really great about pitching in … doing his part of housework, cooking dinner and other things at home.”
Like Carpenter, Cyndie Norris said the MCCS luncheon marked the first time a National Military Spouses’ Appreciation Day observance took place at a facility where they lived.
“I realize that real sacrifices are made by military spouses,” she added. “It was nice to see that fact getting recognized today.”
