Operation MOM – Grass Roots support for families of military personnel

Operation: MOM started shortly after 9/11 in the Northern California Bay Area where two moms, one with a son in the military and one with a son that had just signed up vowing that something like 9/11 would never happen again. Word spread of the meetings for Military Moms and soon many family members began to attend, bringing goodies to send in care packages and filling the need to be with other people dealing with the same, sometimes heartbreaking, issues that are not common place in everyday society.

Operation: MOM in Tuolumne County is no different than that very first group. They offer comfort, friendship, and above all support for the families of local men and women serving in the military. Meeting the second Saturday of each month at the Sonora Veterans Memorial Hall on Washington Street at 10:00, the "group is open to family of military and anyone who wishes to support our military and their families."

“Operation: MOM is an organization whose purpose is to show support to our military families and to our U.S. Military personnel on active duty.  Our support will demonstrate to our men and women in uniform that those of us at home care about them and are behind them 100%.  To accomplish this:  we host caring support groups to family members and friends of active military personnel who desire a place to share their thoughts and feelings with others who share the common bond of having a loved on in harms way.  We also send " package and letters/cards of encouragement and support from home and via the internet.”

Though Operation: MOM is designed to be a support group for families and military, it has become much more to some moms. Wishing to stay anonymous this is what one mother had to say about Operation: MOM, “It’s so hard to be in a casual setting when your son is overseas. Everyone seems to have their own opinion on the conflicts and what our military should and should not be doing, and sometimes the things they say are really hurtful. My son is fighting for the greater cause, I believe in him, I respect him and I love him with all my heart. To have him half a world away, not knowing if he’ll come back is the hardest thing I have had to deal with as a mother. I need this support. This understanding.”

For more information about Operation: MOM visit http://www.operationmom.org/sonoragroup.html