Mother’s Day is usually associated with brunches, bouquets of tulips, and handmade cards covered in glitter. It’s a day for celebrating nurturing, patience, and soft landings.
But for a specific group of women, motherhood looks a little different.
For the Veteran Mom, the memories of early motherhood are often intertwined with memories of service. Her scrapbook isn't just filled with first steps and school plays; it also holds images of combat boots, duty stations, and perhaps long months spent far away from the little ones she was protecting.
At Blades Raised, we spend a lot of time honoring military service. Usually, the spotlight is on the male service member—the dad, the grandfather, the husband.
Today, we are shifting that spotlight.
This Mother’s Day, we want to recognize the women who have performed the ultimate dual duty: serving their country in uniform while raising the next generation at home.
Camouflage and Comfort
There is a unique strength required to be a mother in the military. It’s a balancing act that few understand unless they’ve lived it.
It’s the resilience to handle a toddler’s meltdown with the same calm authority used to lead troops. It’s the adaptability to turn a temporary base housing assignment into a warm, stable home in a matter of days. It’s the incredible fortitude required to kiss a sleeping child goodbye before a deployment, swallowing the guilt because you know your sacrifice is for their future.
Veteran moms know that "service before self" isn't just a military motto; it's the definition of motherhood.
The Invisible Veteran
Too often, female veterans are the "invisible veterans."
We hear stories all the time from women who park in "Veteran Parking" spots only to be told they must be waiting for their husbands. When people see a military family, they often default to assuming the dad is the one who served.
But her service is real. Her sacrifices were identical to her male counterparts. Her rank was earned through the same sweat and grit.
Her story deserves to be told, not just as a footnote to her husband’s career or hidden behind her identity as "Mom."
The Symbols of Her Leadership
For the mother who served as an Officer or Senior NCO, she earned the ultimate symbol of authority: the military sword or cutlass.
Too often, these swords end up buried in the back of a closet, perhaps because she feels displaying them is "too aggressive" or simply because she’s been too busy raising a family to focus on her own legacy.
But that sword represents the leadership she displayed. It represents the young troops she mentored and the difficult decisions she made. Bringing that sword out of the dark and mounting it on a Handcrafted Sword Display is a powerful way to say, "Mom was a leader, and we are proud of that."
Honoring Her Whole Story
This Mother’s Day, if the mom in your life is a veteran, give her more than just a day off. Give her recognition for her whole self.
Acknowledge that the discipline, integrity, and strength she shows as a mother were forged in the fires of her military service. Let her know that you see both the warrior and the nurturer, and that you are deeply proud of both.
If you are looking for a way to honor the veteran mom in your life with something that lasts longer than flowers, explore our collection of handcrafted American displays.
For the Leader: A Universal Sword Display to finally give her service sword the place of honor it deserves in her home office or den.
For the Traveler: A Desktop Coin Holder for the challenge coins she earned during her deployments around the world.
For the Memory: A Personalized Photo Plaque framing a picture of her in uniform, perhaps holding her children, capturing the duality of her service.
To all the moms who have worn the uniform: We see you, we respect you, and we thank you. Happy Mother's Day.
- The Blades Raised Team
