Army Seeks to Save War - Torn Marriages

[Florida_Geek]

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Military-Marriages.html?oref=login

December 29, 2004
Army Seeks to Save War - Torn Marriages
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Filed at 4:50 p.m. ET

HOPKINSVILLE, Ky. (AP) -- With studies showing divorce rates as high as 21 percent among couples where one spouse has been sent off to war, the Army is spending $2 million on a variety of marriage programs, including vouchers for romantic getaways to places like the Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tenn.

When Sgt. Jose Bermudez returned from Iraq early this year, he came home to a new baby and a troubled marriage. ``We were on the brink of divorce,'' Mandy Bermudez acknowledged as the couple ate lunch recently with their three children, all under age 3.

The Bermudezes were among 300 couples with the Fort Campbell-based 101st Airborne Division who have attended ``marriage enrichment'' seminars put on by the Army in hopes of saving war-ravaged relationships.

``I've been in the Army 20 years, and I've never seen the Army pay for programs like this,'' said Lt. Col. Chester Egert, chaplain for the 101st.

..more at AP

[Sandpiper]

1. How bout money for psychological counselling

For the many soldiers who return as emotionally dead killbots.

Romantic getaways are a band aid solution.

[Florida_Geek]

2. And two Million is a drop in a big bucket. nt

[Jacobin]

10. Hey!!! That's $13.33 for each soldier NOW serving in Iraq

Now, bite your tongue. That's almost enough for the couple to go to the movies!!!

[Benhurst]

3. And to think we thought it was gays getting married who were

posing a threat to family values!

But at least now we know the root of the problem.

[DoYouEverWonder]

4. Someone tell me

this is all a sick joke.

[Karenina]

7. It's ALL a VERY SICK JOKE.

Yes, it is. Not at all funny.

[rainbow4321]

5. Amazing how the repukes try to promote marriage...

and yet they are the ones starting the wars that are destroying the marriages....

[gratuitous]

6. Oh defense-of-marriage fo-o-olks!

Here's a cause you can get behind to show how serious you are about preserving the sanctity of marriage. Quiz question for some intrepid reporter: How much money has Focus on the Family earmarked to help military marriages in the coming year, and how does this compare to how much it spent on ballot measures around the country?

[Missy Vixen]

8. Hey, US Military: I can save you 2 million bucks

Here's the problem. The italics are mine:

``We were on the brink of divorce,'' Mandy Bermudez acknowledged as the couple ate lunch recently with their three children, all under age 3.

Just a comment, and Lord knows I don't mean to offend. If one's husband or wife is in the military, it might be a good idea to limit the size of one's family until the spouse is back in the USA. Mrs. Bermudez was the sole support for quite some time. Then again, in the War Without End, maybe some of these folks want to have kids in case they can't.

I hope that Mr. and Mrs. Bermudez (and their three kids,) lead a long and happy life together. I also wish that the military would understand that the vast majority of these men and women will never again lead a "normal" life.

Julie

[louis-t]

9. Wonderful...faith-based marriage counseling.

you break it, you own it.

[dhinojosa]

11. Opryland Hotel?

Talk about pouring alcohol on wounds.