Blue Star Families’ Inaugural Fly-In: Elevating Military and Veteran Family Voices on Capitol Hill

By Brooke Blaalid | Associate Director of Policy 

This past month, Blue Star Families hosted its Inaugural Washington, DC Fly-In, bringing together military-connected family members and chapter executive directors from across the country for a powerful three days of advocacy and storytelling. These individuals — spouses, caregivers, and veterans — came with one goal: to ensure that the real challenges faced by military and veteran families every day are not only heard, but also acted upon.

From the halls of Congress to the White House, participants engaged directly with lawmakers and decision-makers to elevate the most pressing issues affecting their communities. Conversations centered around food and housing insecurity, transition support, mental health, employment barriers, and the urgent need to strengthen connections between military families and the communities they serve.

A Seat at the Table

Military families are often discussed, but too rarely spoken with. This Fly-In was a step toward changing that. Participants shared deeply personal stories that illustrated how policies and systems can fall short — and how innovative, community-centered solutions can make all the difference.

Whether it was discussing the importance of including families in the Transition Assistance Program (TAP), highlighting the impact of military spouse unemployment, or urging greater cultural competence in civilian services, our advocates didn’t just bring problems — they brought lived expertise and actionable ideas.

Advocacy in Action

Our Fly-In participants met with members of Congress from both sides of the aisle, underscoring that supporting military and veteran families is not a partisan issue — it’s a national responsibility. These conversations weren’t just symbolic. They were strategic steps toward advancing key policy solutions, such as:

• Expanding family-centered transition support through improvements to TAP

• Restoring Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) to 100%

• Addressing food insecurity among active-duty families

• Reducing barriers to employment for military spouses

• Ensuring veterans get the resources for mental health and extending the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program 

Looking Ahead

This inaugural event is just the beginning. Blue Star Families will continue to build on the momentum of the Fly-In, working in partnership with elected officials, agencies, and our incredible network of community advocates to turn conversations into change.

To the military-connected individuals who traveled from coast to coast to represent their communities, thank you for your courage, your clarity, and your commitment. And to the policymakers who opened their doors to listen and engage, thank you for recognizing that the strength of our military starts at home.

Together, we’re building a future where no military or veteran family has to navigate these challenges alone.