Local military families navigate stress amid global tensions

Blue Star Families offers resources and community support, with a local chapter starting in April

Mar. 3, 2026 at 10:06pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Military families in the Hampton Roads area are feeling the weight of rising tensions with Iran, and one retired military spouse is turning that anxiety into action. Rebekah Sanderlin, who serves on the National Advisory Board of Blue Star Families, said the current climate has brought back familiar feelings for those who lived through the height of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Blue Star Families is an organization founded by military families in 2009 to support and connect military households, and a Hampton Roads chapter is set to launch in mid-April, giving local military families another place to turn to.

Why it matters

As global tensions rise, military families in the Norfolk area are experiencing renewed anxiety and uncertainty, similar to what they felt during the peak of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Organizations like Blue Star Families play a crucial role in providing resources, community support, and a sense of connection for these families during challenging times.

The details

Rebekah Sanderlin, a retired military spouse, said the current climate with Iran has reminded her and other military families of the early days of the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. Blue Star Families, an organization founded by military families in 2009, aims to support and connect military households, especially during times of heightened tension and uncertainty. The organization focuses on connecting families with resources and helping them build community through events and programs.

  • In 2009, Blue Star Families was founded by military families at the peak of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
  • A Hampton Roads chapter of Blue Star Families is set to launch in mid-April 2026.

The players

Rebekah Sanderlin

A retired military spouse who serves on the National Advisory Board of Blue Star Families.

Blue Star Families

An organization founded by military families in 2009 to support and connect military households.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The last week has reminded me a lot of what those days felt like, those early days of a big scary conflict.”

— Rebekah Sanderlin, Retired military spouse

“My husband was active-duty army and at the time 2009, if you recall pretty much peak of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and we saw just a tremendous need in the community.”

— Rebekah Sanderlin, Retired military spouse

“You worry about your spouse for sure, you worry about your friends and their families and you don't know what to expect, there's a lot, and there's just a lot of insecurity and anxiety and that what military families are also experiencing as much as anything it's the unknown.”

— Rebekah Sanderlin, Retired military spouse

“The other goal is to get people to come to events, come to our coffee connects and to our outdoor program events so they can meet one other person.”

— Rebekah Sanderlin, Retired military spouse

“All the anxiety that comes with the deployment, what I would say is lean on your family and friends and lean on the connections you built and let people help you.”

— Rebekah Sanderlin, Retired military spouse

What’s next

The Hampton Roads chapter of Blue Star Families is set to launch in mid-April 2026, providing local military families with additional resources and community support.

The takeaway

As global tensions rise, organizations like Blue Star Families play a vital role in supporting military families in the Norfolk area, helping them navigate the stress and uncertainty through community, resources, and connections. Their upcoming local chapter launch will give these families another avenue to find the support they need.