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I also think our children have seen how happy I am when I volunteer and the importance of showing compassion and kindness to others. They learn from watching us. I have also learned, when there are opportunities that our children can be involved in, volunteer opportunities within their Dad’s unit or on the installation or when we are entertaining in our home, our children also enjoyed it and learned so much. I feel our children enjoyed the social part of being in the military and enjoyed the military lifestyle and all the moves they made. Of course there are many sacrifices. Our oldest had 4 high schools, our daughter had 3 high schools and our youngest had 2 high schools. They all moved in their senior year. They all said they wouldn’t have changed anything. I am very proud to have been an Army Spouse and Mom and feel very blessed to have lived this life in the Army. I also feel it is very important to treat everyone equally with dignity and respect and to make people feel special because they are.
About Mrs. Linda Odierno
Linda Odierno was born and raised in Rockaway, New Jersey. She has been married to her high school sweetheart, General Ray Odierno, for the past 36 years. Linda’s husband is currently the 38th Chief of Staff of the Army.
The Odierno family has moved 24 times in 37 years and has enjoyed every assignment and post, both in the United States and overseas. Over the years, Linda has dedicated her time to raising her family and volunteering in support of Military Families and the community. She represents Military Families in numerous Army and Joint forums and currently serves as the Senior Spouse in the U.S. Army, advocating for Soldier and Family Programs and Support.
Linda’s strongest efforts have been in leading volunteer-led Army Family Readiness Groups (FRG). She has led Family Readiness Groups at every level from the Battery/Company through Force-Level, and she deeply admires the other volunteer FRG Leaders/Advisors for their hard work, dedication, and the loving support they provide to Soldiers and their Families. She especially emphasizes that in today’s military, with numerous units deploying for a year or more at a time, the FRG, Rear Detachment, and Chaplains are critical resources to the Families left behind and that the special bonds formed by Army Families during those deployments last a lifetime.
Since 2008, Linda has provided pet therapy with her yellow Labrador/Golden Retriever cross-breed dog at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Mologne House, Dewitt Army Community Hospital, Portsmouth Naval Medical Center, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center at Bethesda and Fort Belvoir Community Hospital, visiting Wounded Service Members and their Families as well as other patients and staff throughout the hospitals.
Linda feels that it is important to be a good neighbor, to have compassion for others, and to treat everyone equally with dignity and respect. The best thing she ever did was to marry a Soldier, raise three wonderful children, gain a wonderful daughter-in-law and son-in-law and become a Grandma. She has never been prouder to be a military wife and mom.
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