Staying connected during the holidays
Army soldier Tyler Partridge giving a speech
Every year during the holidays, many of our nation’s service members spend precious time away from their families—often celebrating while their loved ones are serving thousands of miles away.
Tess Partridge, a spouse to an active-duty Army soldier, is no stranger to this.
Since being married, her husband Tyler has been stationed at five different bases across the country and has been deployed several times. His last deployment lasted more than 10 months. It’s common for the Partridge family to be apart during the holidays. But during those times, Tess has worked to make sure her three children still have familiar experiences and traditions.
“I try to make it as special as it normally would be,” she said. “My husband always helps me with the holiday lights, so the Christmas that he wasn't here I actually hired a holiday light company to put the lights on the house we lived in.”
Tess Partridge standing side by side with her husband, Tyler
For military families, having a strong community and support system is especially important when a loved one is away. Tess said creating close relationships with other military families has become crucial to surviving the challenges of military life.
“I ensure we're extra family-focused when Tyler is gone, but when family isn’t around, we rely on friends,” she said. “I have made lifelong friends with fellow spouses who know how crazy military schedules can be. They know that the holidays can be lonely and how important it is to spend the holidays together. It's been really special.”
Beyond their community, Tess has found ways to keep their family connected during the holidays, even if they can’t be together physically. Technology allows military families like hers reliable ways to stay in touch, even during deployments.
“Communication in the military has gotten exponentially better compared to 20 years ago,” Tess said. “We used to rely on Skype and enduring long lines to make phone calls. Now, we can connect most of the time.”
She shared that one of their most meaningful moments came during the holidays while he was deployed during Christmas.
“He planned out his schedule so he could be on FaceTime while the kids opened their presents, and we were able to talk for almost three hours,” she said. “It was still so special, even though he was present via screen.”
Stories like the Partridge family’s remind us that service doesn’t just come from those in uniform—it comes from the families who hold everything together at home. Their strength and resilience are what make military life possible, and their sacrifices deserve to be seen, understood and supported..
Tess Partridge with her husband, Tyler, and their three children
That’s why organizations like DAV exist—to make sure that the challenges faced by service members, veterans and their loved ones are never faced alone. Whether it’s providing help with benefits, connecting veterans to care, or offering community when it’s needed most, DAV works to honor and uplift those who serve and those who stand beside them.
“It’s because of them that we are able to feel safe when celebrating the holidays,” said DAV National Adjutant and CEO Barry Jesinoski. “The families of our military members and veterans are always in our thoughts. We thank them for the sacrifices they make and the support system they provide to our nation’s heroes.”
