Our military members sacrifice more than many of us will ever know. But behind the scenes, their families shoulder a great deal as well -- frequent relocations, unemployment, social isolation -- and they do it all while supporting and loving their service member.
Blue Star Families -- a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering military and veteran families by connecting them with their communities and providing critical support resources -- addresses these fundamental challenges at their core.
A love story about military support
Blue Star Families was founded out of love -- specifically, Kathy Roth-Douquet’s love for her country, her children and her husband, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps for 30 years.
In her 24 years as a military spouse, Roth-Douquet raised two children through four deployments and nine moves across three continents, four countries, and five states -- with little to no help. It was hard, confusing and lonely. This showed up in small but heartbreaking ways:
- When her 4-year-old son climbed out of his toddler bed at night looking for his deployed dad.
- When her daughter had to change schools 10 times before she turned 16.
- When Kathy lost jobs repeatedly because every move forced her to start over.
- When money got tight.
- When her husband was flying dangerous, lifesaving helicopter missions in Iraq.
Roth-Douquet could have said enough. She could have ordered her Marine to come home. But she didn’t. Out of love, she held down the home front -- because she knew his men and women, and her country, were safer with him serving.
All she needed was a little more help. A friend. A neighbor. A community that cared.
That’s why she started Blue Star Families.
The glue that holds families together
Blue Star Families was founded for military families like Roth-Douquet’s who know firsthand how isolating service life can be. Today, it is the nation’s largest chapter-based military family support organization -- helping families find connection and belonging wherever service takes them.
“Military families move three times more often than their everyday neighbors,” Roth-Douquet said. “Their loved ones deploy to harm’s way. We started Blue Star Families because no one should have to face those transitions alone. When families feel at ease, they’re stronger. And when families are stronger, so is our military.”
How Blue Star Families makes a difference
The support Blue Star Families helps generate is sometimes dramatic. Just as often, it’s found in everyday kindness:
- A friend met at a Blue Star Families event who becomes part of a support system.
- Free entry to a Blue Star Museum that gives a military kid a day of wonder with their parent(s).
- Research that carries a spouse’s voice all the way to Congress.
- A scholarship or training that helps a spouse restart a career after another move.
What ties these gestures together is connection. By introducing military families to their communities, Blue Star Families ensures there’s always someone nearby, ready to step up when needed most.
Why it matters
Helping military families is not charity -- it’s community. They are our neighbors, our kids’ classmates and our friends at the park. Their resilience is remarkable, but no one should have to do it all alone. Because, after all, they do it for all of us. We need a military. And they volunteer to stand for us. But as they do that, they also need our help.
Blue Star Families believes a little community goes a long way. By connecting families like Roth-Douquet ‘s with the support they need, it can build stronger, more caring neighborhoods for everyone.
Join the mission at BlueStarFam.org and help put a military family at ease.