Hey Women Warriors,

Welcome to November: Together We Thrive - Family Fun for Veterans

November brings reflection, gratitude, and connection. As Women Warriors, we know service doesn’t end when the uniform comes off—it shifts to a new mission: caring for our families, our friendships, and ourselves.

This month, we’re leaning into family fun. Joy isn’t frivolous—it’s fuel. Shared laughter, inside jokes, and traditions become the backbone of resilience. Whether your “family” looks like kids and grandkids, siblings and spouses, friends who became family, or even a loyal four-legged battle buddy, connection keeps us strong.

We’ll also mark Veterans Day with pride, honor the women remembered at the Vietnam Women’s Memorial, and cheer for our Marine sisters on the Corps’ Birthday. And yes, we’ll give thanks—because Thanksgiving is more than a holiday. It’s a reminder to slow down, savor, and find joy together.

So grab a warm mug and settle in. This issue brings you family activities that won’t drain your wallet, a “metric crapton” of free resources, and even a look at why laughter might be your family’s secret weapon for healing. Together, we thrive.

 Let’s go!

 Carma

- Together We Thrive: Family Fun for Veterans
- Five Low-Cost Adventures for Military Families This Fall 
- Carma’s Cocoa — Comfort in a cup for every warrior’s family table.
- Quotes That Remind Us Family Is a Force Multiplier 
- November Observances & Free Resources 
- Laughing Together: Why Humor Heals Families 
- VA Claims Corner: Dependents & Family Benefits Explained 
​

Q: Which famous U.S. President declared Thanksgiving a national holiday—after a 17-year campaign led by a woman?
​
​👉 Scroll to the end of this issue to find the answer.

When we think about resilience, the first images that come to mind are often battlefield moments or the grit it takes to push through hardship. But sometimes, resilience looks a lot less dramatic—it’s the messy, joy-filled chaos of a family road trip, the steady rhythm of Sunday dinners, or the laughter that erupts during a board game no one is actually playing by the rules.

For women veterans, family fun isn’t a luxury. It’s part of healing, reintegration, and legacy. After years of living by the mission, it can feel strange to make 'fun' the mission. Yet joy is one of the strongest tools we have for mental health. Research shows that shared play and laughter help regulate stress hormones, improve communication, and strengthen emotional bonds. In other words, family fun is tactical—it’s building strength before the next storm hits.

This November, as we celebrate Veterans and Military Families Month, it’s the perfect time to highlight the small rituals that make our families thrive. Some families create traditions around service—like hosting a big Veterans Day breakfast each year, inviting friends and neighbors to share in food and stories. Others keep it simple: a favorite cocoa recipe (keep scrolling for Carma's Cocoa Recipe), a family hike, or writing gratitude notes to one another at Thanksgiving. These rituals don’t just pass the time; they remind us that home is where we are most needed, most seen, and most loved.

And family fun isn’t just for kids. Many veterans find that adult children, siblings, or even veteran friends who’ve become family benefit from intentional time together. Consider starting a new tradition this season: a “thankfulness jar,” a karaoke night with military-themed classics, or a veterans-and-families service project that gives back to your community. The details matter less than the connection itself.

At the end of the day, thriving together means recognizing that the strength of our service doesn’t end with us. It multiplies in our families, our laughter, and our love. And sometimes, it multiplies best with cocoa in one hand and a slice of pie in the other.
​

A massive roundup of veteran- and family-friendly freebies, discounts, and support programs. Includes: free museum entry, VA family programs, veteran discounts on parks & travel, mental health apps, childcare resources, and more.

Get the list of 100+ FREE Retreats for Veterans as a bonus when you buy the Metric Crapton List.
​

Family fun doesn’t have to drain your bank account—or your energy. Veterans and military families already know how to stretch a dollar, but sometimes the best memories are made in the simplest ways. Here are five affordable (and veteran-friendly) adventures to try this November:
1. Parks, Trails, and Leaf Hunts — Free entry with the America the Beautiful National Park Pass.
2. Museums for Free (or Nearly Free) — Check Blue Star Families for museum access.
3. Community Sports & Family Fitness Days — YMCA and ASYMCA events.
4. Movie Night Under the Stars — A sheet, a projector, and a family vote.
5. Service as Adventure — Pack care boxes or march in a Veterans Day parade together.

Bottom Line: Adventure isn’t about spending big—it’s about showing up. This season, grab your coat, pack a thermos of Carma’s Cocoa, and step into moments that will outlast the season.

* Carma’s Note: I usually put 1/4 cup of dry cocoa mix in a large glass, boil 1 cup of water (in a different glass) in the microwave, stir the boiling water into the cocoa mix and then stir in 1 cup of milk.

​Because sometimes, resilience tastes like chocolate. 🍫

Whether it’s your battle buddy, your kids, your spouse, your siblings, or the friends who became your family, they’re the reason we stay grounded—and sometimes the reason we lose our minds (in the best way). These quotes remind us that family isn’t a distraction from the mission—it is the mission.

“The love of family and the admiration of friends is much more important than wealth and privilege.”
​
— Charles Kuralt
“You don’t choose your family. They are God’s gift to you, as you are to them.”

— Desmond Tutu
“Families are like fudge—mostly sweet, with a few nuts.”

— Les Dawson
“In every conceivable manner, the family is a link to our past and a bridge to our future.”

— Alex Haley
“You call it chaos, we call it family.”

— Unknown
“A family is the original squad—bound by love, loyalty, and shared snacks.”

— Women Warriors Connect
​

November is: 
- Veterans and Military Families Month
- Native American Heritage Month

Nov 9 — World Freedom Day
Nov 10 — Marine Corps Birthday - Happy 250th!
Nov 11 — Veterans Day
Nov 28 — Thanksgiving Day
​

NOVEMBER RESOURCES:
This month’s resources focus on military and veteran families, fun, and supporting the troops.  

Family-Friendly Tools 
- Military OneSource and the Family Support Hub
- Blue Star Families
- Armed Services YMCA
- Space-A Travel Tips for Families
- VA Caregiver Support Program
- Team Red, White & Blue (Team RWB)

Comedy
- Armed Services Art Partnership (ASAP) - Free comedy (and art, writing, music) classes.
- VetTix - Free entertainment tickets, which often include comedy club tickets. 

Volunteer and Troop Support
- Soldiers Angels - May No Soldier Be Forgotten
- Friends of the Troops - Our Country's Defenders Deserve to be Remembered and Honored
- Operation Support Our Troops America - Holiday Stockings
- Support Our Troops - The Bridge Between You and America's Troops
- Build A Sign - Build a Sign for Returning Troops
- Boots For Troops - Supporting Deployed Troops with Care Packages
- Troopons - sends coupons to military families to make their paycheck go farther
- Operation Gratitude - Helps American Say 'Thank You' to Our Military
- Troopster - Care Packages for Troops

Military families know how to find humor in the hardest places. From PCS chaos to deployment bloopers, laughter is more than entertainment—it’s medicine.

Research shows shared laughter lowers stress, strengthens bonds, and improves communication. For kids, it turns fear into fun. For spouses, it eases the weight of uncertainty. For veterans, it opens doors to healing conversations.

So this month, make room for laughter. Tell the corny joke. Host karaoke. Create a silly “talent show” after Thanksgiving dinner.

Here’s one to get you started:

Q: Why did the turkey join the band?

A: Because it already had the drumsticks. 🥁🦃

Joy multiplies when it’s shared.​

Serving in the military isn’t just a solo mission—it’s a family affair. The VA offers several benefits to support your spouse, children, and caregivers who’ve stood beside you through every deployment, duty station, and transition.

Here’s a quick guide to what’s available and how to claim it:
🎓 Education
- Chapter 35 DEA (Dependents’ Educational Assistance): Helps spouses and children of veterans who are permanently disabled or deceased due to service with education costs—college, career training, or certification programs.
- Fry Scholarship: Provides full tuition and housing benefits for children and surviving spouses of service members who died in the line of duty after September 10, 2001.

💊 Health Coverage
- CHAMPVA (Civilian Health and Medical Program of the VA): Shares healthcare costs for spouses and dependents of qualifying veterans, offering coverage for most medical services and supplies.

💰 Disability Compensation
- Veterans rated 30% or higher for disability can receive additional pay for eligible dependents, including a spouse, children, or dependent parents.

🤝 Caregiver Support
- Family members providing care can access training, resources, peer support, and stipends through the VA’s Caregiver Support Program—because caregivers serve, too.

📝 How to File
- Add dependents: VA Form 21-686c
- Apply for education: Online through VA.gov
- Apply for CHAMPVA: VA Form 10-10d

Please don’t leave benefits on the table. Your family stood with you during service—they deserve the support too.
​

Q: Which famous U.S. President declared Thanksgiving a national holiday—after a 17-year campaign led by a woman?

A: President Abraham Lincoln.


In 1863, Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday—thanks to a 17-year campaign by Sarah Josepha Hale, the woman who also wrote Mary Had a Little Lamb.

Her persistence reshaped American tradition and gave us the family holiday we know today. As we honor veterans and military families this November, let’s remember Hale’s lesson: persistence and love can change the world.
​

Whether it’s cocoa by the fire, laughter at the table, or a family adventure that doesn’t cost a dime, joy is part of resilience. Together, we thrive—because family is our greatest force multiplier.