Valentine's Day for military families in Florida

Valentine’s Day is just a little over a week away and Tampa businesses are gearing up for the holiday of love. For military families in the Tampa area though, holidays can be hard. Our servicemen and servicewomen who are currently deployed don’t get to celebrate special events with the ones they love, and often miss out on big moments and little memories with their spouses, children, parents, friends, and/or significant others.

Brooks Law Group is very open about our undying support for our military, and we have a special place in our hearts for our fellow Floridians who serve, especially those who are stationed at nearby McDill Airforce Base right here in the Tampa area. We’ve worked with many service people and their families following accidents, specifically since the Camp Lejeune lawsuit began and we vowed to help these victims get the help they needed and the justice they deserved. Sometimes though, we want to offer more than just professional help for these families. That’s why we started brainstorming different ways our community could serve our military families here in our own area. Our research created a list of wonderful ideas, from simple gestures to grand celebrations, that could mean the world to the military family in your life. The jury is still out on our favorite idea, but a few notable mentions include:

  • Be the “hands and feet” to pull off a Valentine surprise.
    Many of our servicemen and servicewomen overseas want to make their families feel special on holidays, but it’s hard to pull off surprises from a distance! Offer to pick up and deliver packages, facilitate a fun Facetime or video call surprise, or simply show up with their favorite takeout dinner “ordered” from across the sea.
  • Host a Valentine Ball for spouses!
    If you want to go big, hold a ball! A Valentine Ball that is. Rent a venue, or use your own office space if large enough, and create a fun, festive Valentine atmosphere where military spouses can enjoy a night out with friends and feel camaraderie among people who “get it” when holidays roll around. Cater a nice dinner, or simply have fancy desserts and coffee if you want to keep it simple. It’s a nice way to give these spouses a night out and get their minds off the fact that their true valentine is far away.
  • Have a Cards and Cookies party for military kids in your community. 
    We love this idea! Hold a “cards and cookie” party where military kiddos can enjoy some yummy Valentine treats, and at the same time make a card (or two) for their mom/dad/aunt/uncle/sibling who is currently away from home. Provide the paper, crayons, glue, and glitter and let them have fun creating Valentines that are sure to bring a smile to the recipient.
  • Offer to pay the postage.
    This simple gesture could mean the world to a military family. Offering to pay the postage on a Valentine package to their loved one, or buying the needed stamps for a handful of Valentine cards, could be the difference between our servicemen and women getting a fun surprise on a holiday. For families on a budget, a handful of stamps or a few dollars of international postage is a big deal.
  • Provide free babysitting.
    If you know a military spouse or significant other with young kids, offer a free night of babysitting! Encourage them to take a day (or evening) to go out with a group of friends, unwind alone with a cup of coffee, or simply get away to a quiet place for a video call with their Valentine. This is huge when they are having to play single parent and are often under the weight of many household duties and emotional stress.

Brooks Law Group is proud to support our servicemen and women, both within our community and at large. Our office fights for justice and compensation for our veterans, current service people, and their families who have been impacted by injuries or illnesses directly related to their time serving our country. We are actively representing victims of the Camp Lejeune water contamination case, and are helping these affected individuals file their claims under the Camp Lejeune Water Contamination lawsuit. From the first consultation until the day their case is closed, we are in their corner and ready to fight for them. Can we fight for you? Tampa victims know they can always Look to Brooks for the very best in legal representation.

Steve was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. As was the practice for new doctors his father worked day and night during his medical residency at Charity Hospital there. Steve comes from a long line of doctors. His father, his grandfather, his great grandfather, even two uncles were all specialists and/or surgeons in their chosen medical specialties, including internal medicine specialist, obstetrics / gynecology, neurosurgery and general practice / surgery. His great-great grandfather was the Surgeon General of Ohio during the Civil War.