FORT WORTH, Texas - Mother's Day is a holiday that is celebrated in one way or another in many countries around the world. On the second Sunday in May, Americans celebrate by giving their mothers flowers, cards and various other gifts.
While motherhood itself can be a full-time job, some mothers make the choice to also serve in the United States Air Force. These women juggle the trials of parenting with the responsibility of maintaining operations, coping with deployment tempos and upholding the core values: integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all we do.
There are almost 2 million children around the world with military parents. Of those 2 million, Charissa Menken, a student flight trainee with the 136th Airlift Wing, grew up around the Texas Air National Guard and will soon be serving alongside her mother at the wing.
"As a family, we all supported her," said Charissa Menken. "It is awesome to get to see a woman and my mom be all these different things and still be strong, beautiful and be able to accomplish so much. That was inspiring for me."
Charissa Menken grew up as a "military brat" and developed an appreciation for service early on, thanks to the influence of her mother. When the opportunity arose to follow in her mother's footsteps, pursuing a military career herself, the decision was an easy one.
"What's special about our relationship is that we get this little moment where we're working in the same wing together," Charissa Menken said. "I get to learn from her and not only be with her at home but be with her at the start of my military journey."
Tech. Sgt. Lisa Menken, a contract specialist with the 136th Mission Support Group, Texas Air National Guard, and mother of Charissa Menken, has had many opportunities to share the responsibilities, joy and hardships of military service with her daughter.
Sometimes, as military members, the cost of service may involve missing important holidays or events. While deployed to assist with the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, Lisa Menken wasn't able to physically attend her daughter's enlistment ceremony, but with advances in technology and the support of her fellow Airmen, she was there via video chat.
"I was in a van coming back from Beaumont, Texas, while the ceremony was taking place," said Lisa Menken. "It wasn't something we could control, but I was just really proud of her making that decision to get in. Being a good citizen, being respectful, trustworthy, and having strong values are things we hope and wish our kids take on. I was proud."
As unique as having a mother and daughter serving together at the same unit may be, many mothers across the wing are faced with leaving their families and even young children behind to ensure their state and nation's safety. Senior Airman Briana Boggs, a public affairs administrator with the 136th Airlift Wing, Texas Air National Guard, maintains this selfless perspective though she understands the gravity of a mother's sacrifice.
"It is all a part of putting service before self and getting the job done," said Boggs. "My daughter is turning two this year and luckily I haven't missed any major milestones like her walking, her first words, or anything like that. It's something other mothers have to deal with as well, but being a mother is great. It's stressful, exciting and every emotion you could think of combined, but knowing that I serve my country to not only keep my daughter safe, but also the rest of the nation too, makes all my sacrifices worth it."
During the Texas Air National Guard's response to Hurricane Harvey, Boggs worked tirelessly for many long days through her civilian job to assist with evacuation and rescue operations in areas where victims could not access medical facilities. Her response, as well as that of many other Airmen moms, shows the heart of a mother and the character of an Airman transcends the uniform.
Moms like these show the true meaning of what it is to be a Citizen-Airmen, and we wanted to take this moment to wish all our moms a very Happy Mother's Day.