Military Spouses of the Year for each Service Branch Announced

Voting Underway to Select Overall Winner

Military Spouse magazine today announced the five military service branch winners for its 2009 Military Spouse of the Year award, presented by USAA. The winners were Air Force wife Susan Webb of Glasford, Ill.; Army wife Misti Stevens of Fort Campbell, Ky.; Coast Guard wife Patricia Pruett of Miami, Fla.; Marine Corps wife Tanya Queiro of Camp Lejeune, N.C.; and Navy wife Christy Kuiatnyk of Ellerslie, Ga.

The five women were selected through an online vote held during the last three months.

Voting starts today to select one overall winner. All Americans are encouraged to vote online at www.msoy.milspouse.com, where you can find profiles of these amazing supporters of the Homefront. No registration, membership or fee is required to vote. This final phase of voting will continue through March 4.

The overall 2009 Military Spouse of the Year (MSOY) will be announced and honored nationally in the June issue of Military Spouse magazine and at the second annual MSOY Awards Ceremony to be held during the week of May 4, 2009 in Washington, DC, in conjunction with National Military Spouse Appreciation Week. Laura Bush and the spouses of generals, admirals, Congressmen, CEOs and ambassadors honored the 2008 Military Spouse of the Year at last year’s high profile event.

The winner will make additional public appearances, write a monthly column to appear in Military Spouse magazine, and maintain a blog during her reign, which will last through May 2010.

As part of the ceremonies, the five women will also be honored tonight during USAA’s Military Appreciation Night at the San Antonio Spurs basketball game. USAA has produced a special video, celebrity appearances and on-court tribute to honor the women.

The Military Spouse of the Year represents the millions of military spouses who are unsung heroes maintaining the Homefront, giving back selflessly to their communities, and providing support to our nation’s troops. Often, these spouses have full-time jobs and raise families too.