2010 Military Spouse of the Year lauded for website creation

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WASHINGTON (AFNS) --  Lori Bell, the 2010 Military Spouse of the Year, recently spoke about earning the award and the National Association of Military Moms and Spouses website she created to help spouses connect and support each other while surviving the challenges of military family life.

She said the idea came to her during her family's first deployment.

"One very depressing deployment day, I came downstairs just to find out where spouses go when they are having a little challenge with deployment and regular life?'," Bell said, adding that she didn't find anything substantial.

So in minutes, Bell explained, she created her own website and invited all of her friends to join.

With seven people, her website began Sept. 7, 2009 as a forum and support network for spouses and moms of military members to ask questions of others with similar experiences.

"Today we have nearly 1,400 members," said Bell, who was honored by Military Spouse magazine.

(Courtesy of Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs)