FTF2 | Big Sky, MT
“Our family will be forever grateful to the Big Sky Bravery Team and supporting donors.
The BSB Family Task Force we were given was the vacation we did not know we needed. Our family of five consists of three girls and two active-duty service members for parents who have 40-plus years of combined service to our nation, half of that being served in the Special Operations community. A trip to Montana and the Big Sky area was something that created lifelong memories. The opportunity to see all three of our children bond together over the various family activities scheduled and funded by BSB and their donors in a region as beautiful as Big Sky was absolutely epic.
For our family, with work, school, deployments, and the pressures of life in general, planning a family vacation is always a challenge. To be honest, it is often put on the back burner. The BSB team selecting our family for a TF was almost perfect timing between the children’s school, part-time jobs, and our work requirements. The ability to get away from life stressors and just spend time together could only be topped by the opportunities we had to see our children gain confidence and challenge themselves in new experiences. It was not only a proud parent moment but a core memory that will be with our family for years to come.
Our children, 20, 17, and 5, are all girls, and in addition to the difficulties that come along with those ages, they were raised to accept and tolerate dozens of deployments, hundreds of training trips, and an excessive amount of time away from home. The guilt of missing the small moments that come with school events, sports, friends, and growing milestones has been something we, as parents, often have to balance for almost the entirety of our careers. Although this trip can’t make up for all of those moments, it was, however, able to show our children the amount of great American Patriots who exist in the world that support and appreciate not our military service but also the sacrifice they have had as children to two dual active-duty service members.
Both my husband and I have had the luxury of being recipients of BSB trips in years past, but to be able to bring our family along and show them the region and the amazing volunteers and members of Big Sky Bravery was truly a rewarding and humbling experience, we are so grateful for it, and hope it can be continued with other families in our community.
With love and gratitude,
-LB Family”
Family Task Force 2 Patriots:
Chris Voigts (lodging)
Canyon Adventures (side-by-sides & horseback riding)
Marci Gehring (meals)
Geyser Whitewater Expeditions (discounted rafting experience)
Endeavor Ballooning (discounted hot air balloon ride)
