For Armed Services YMCA, November all about family Published Nov. 1, 2004 By Samantha L. Quigley American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- Military Family Week began about two decades ago as part of The Great American Family project.Then in 1996, the Armed Services YMCA expanded the week, which occurred around Thanksgiving, into Military Family Month, which began Nov. 1.Just as the week grew into a month-long celebration, military families have been growing in number and percentage of force, said retired Navy Rear Adm. Frank Gallo, director of the Armed Services YMCA."When I came in the service back in the Dark Ages, most of the troops were single. Everybody was single," he said. Now, he added, 65 to 70 percent of servicemembers are married, many with children.This makes the family a big part of the military, and the health of those families is a big part of the readiness of the military, he said.The organization, part of the national YMCA, is dedicated to supporting ongoing outreach activities for these families. Unlike the national organization, the Armed Services YMCA, with the exception of the branch at Naval Station Bremerton, Wash., does not have physical fitness facilities. Instead, it provides child care, counseling, singles centers, airport welcome centers and hospital programs, Admiral Gallo said.As long as it is legal, moral and needed, "there's very little we will not try," he said.The organization also tries to help ease the financial burden of the families of guardsman and reservists, whose pay often drops when called to active duty. Some companies will make up the difference between a guardsman's or reservist's pay, but many others do not."They find themselves strapped," Admiral Gallo said. "So we put of extra effort into them."Extra effort also goes into helping junior enlisted servicemembers in the active forces, he said.Currently, Woman's Day magazine has published two of three planned issues that each feature one family as a representative for all military families. The goal is finding support for families like these during the holidays, when it really gets tough and expenses are high, Admiral Gallo said.The month puts a little extra focus on supporting families. This has been especially true since the beginning of the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, Admiral Gallo said.Part of what the organization does to help bases get ready to celebrate the month comes in a package that they prepare and the individual services mail to bases. The package includes a letter from the president, and a letter from the senior enlisted adviser of the particular service. There are also posters to help advertise the month.The posters are the product of an art contest directly tied to Military Family Month. The annual contest kicks off Nov. 1, and ends Feb. 14. Military children in grades kindergarten through sixth from each service, including the Coast Guard, are eligible.The posters' annual theme is "My Military Family." A winner from each service receives a $500 savings bond; second-place finishers get $100 bonds. The winners' artwork is featured on the month’s poster.One way organization officials help single servicemembers is to arrange for them to have Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner with a local family. They always end up having a good time, Admiral Gallo said. Sometimes there are more families offering to serve dinner than there are servicemembers in need of that dinner.Admiral Gallo said the war on terror has brought out the good in a lot of people. "American people are generous to a fault. That's a really good part of what's come out of this war," he said.