Taking care: A group for soldiers' families back home

Shawn, a member of the Iowa Army National Guard, 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry, knew he was to be deployed for a year-long tour as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom the very next month.

"There were definitely a lot of mixed emotions," Shawn admitted. "Sarah and I had been together for quite some time but, now, barring a few leaves, we'd be apart for the next 12 months."

"I was in complete denial up until the last minute," Sarah explained. "If you put it out of your mind, it won't hurt as much."

It was only after he became one of the 250 Iowans deployed in June 2007 that Shawn Petersen's absence became "real" to his bride.

"I threw myself a big ol' pity party for a while," Sarah said. "Then I decided to take action."

A marketing coordinator in wealth management for Security National Bank, Sarah knew that several Siouxland families also had loved ones serving in the military overseas.

That's why she helped to found Support Siouxland Soldiers, a community nonprofit (501c3) organization whose mission is to support veterans, members of the armed forces and their families.

The original mission of the organization was to provide personalized "Care" packages for soldiers as a way to increase morale.

"Since we began in 2007, the organization has held 'Care Pack' events every other month," Sarah said. "To date, we've sent out thousands of 'care' packages to all branches of the armed forces."

But for Sarah, Support Siouxland Soldiers allowed her to connect with other families going through the same sense of loneliness.

Then living on an acreage east of Sioux City, Sarah admitted she felt isolated.

Support Siouxland Soldiers proved that she wasn't alone.

"It was awesome because no one knows what you're going through as much as another military family," Sarah said. "As much as the organization was created to help the soldiers, we were also providing support for ourselves."

When Shawn Petersen's deployment in Iraq ended in 2008, the couple was able to make plans for the future.

First, the Petersens moved into a house in Sioux City and, then, started a family with the birth of their daughter Claire.

Claire was only a month old when Shawn Petersen was deployed again in 2010. This time, he was to serve a 12-month deployment in Afghanistan.

"I think the second deployment was easier on Sarah than the first one was," Shawn noticed.

Sarah agreed, adding that caring for her daughter took her mind off her husband half the world away.

"Sarah and I would stay in contact via Skype," Shawn said.

"That was nice because I could yell at Shawn with Skype," Sarah said, jokingly. "You can't do that as effectively with an email."

In addition, Shawn said he was able to get to know his daughter via Skype.

"I knew I'd miss Claire's first steps or first words," he said, shaking his head. "That's time that I'll never be able to get back. Yet Skype made me feel like I was still involved with my family."

Since returning in 2011, Shawn has became reacquainted with both his daughter and his wife.

"It was great having everything go back to normal," said Shawn, a welder with Sioux City Foundry.

For Sarah, it took a little time to get used to married life again.

"I was becoming accustomed to feeling a single parent and being the one responsible for seeing the bills get paid on time," she confessed. "It was hard letting go."

Still, the Petersens are happy to be a family once again.

Even though fewer soldiers are being deployed, Sarah said her commitment to Support Siouxland Soldiers has remained as strong as ever.

"The group has definitely evolved," she said. "In addition to helping soldiers overseas, we are also helping when they get back."

Today, Support Siouxland Soldiers provide food, financial and human resources support for returning veterans and their families.

In addition, the organization continues to bring military families together through family events like holiday parties and youth camps.

"When Shawn first went overseas, I felt very alone," Sarah said. "Through Support Siouxland Soldiers, I discovered I had an extended family I never had before."