Giveaway alert! This podcast just got even better. One lucky listener is going to get the chance to win the book The Bear and The Hug. For a chance to win, simply comment on any social media post sharing this podcast. We will randomly choose a winner one week from when this podcast airs.

It has been a hard few years for families, and this new author wanted to create a tale that would resonate with children confused by COVID, long distance, and periods of military deployment when hugs aren’t an option. So a Military spouse published a fairytale Bear book to help families with difficult conversations. The book is about hope, bravery, and love – there is always hope and sometimes you have to continue to be brave for love.

In The Bear and The Hug, Bear ventures out of his cave after a long sleep to find the world outside is not how he left it. Instead of greeting him with open arms, Bear’s friends keep their distance. With help from his friends, he learns that bravery and hope are what are required to save hugs.

Melissa Cannioto’s husband is a pilot in the US Air Force, and through many deployments, they’ve seen first-hand the effect distance has on young people. Though she lives in the US, she originally comes from Newbury in England and misses scones, crumpets, and all things British here in Florida. Melissa has a degree in English Literature, and now works as an Adventure Guide for Disney and travels extensively with her husband across the world. Next year, we are climbing Mt Kilimanjaro!

Listeners, if you would like to learn more about Melissa, you can connect with her on social media via Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook. And you can purchase The Bear and The Hug here or at any major book retailer.

News 6 with Emma

Here is this week’s News 6 mashup of stories for the week of October 10, 2022, straight from AWN News 6 Correspondent, Emma Tighe:

US Navy Supercarrier Readies to Set Sail

 For the first time in forty years, the Navy is ready to launch a new type of craft on its maiden voyage. Super Carrier USS Gerald R. Ford sets to deploy from Virginia with a mission of training in mind. Her sailors will be joined by at least eight other countries as the US Military looks to strengthen bonds through training with our NATO Allies.

DOD Tackles Economic Insecurity for Service Members

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin the Third announced a plan to provide immediate and long-term financial relief for members of the military. Some of these steps are an overhaul of BAH calculations to ensure that BAH reflects the historic fluctuations of the housing market, fully funding the commissary with the goal of becoming 25 percent cheaper than its off-post competitors, and launching a new career-accelerator pilot initiative that will match military spouses with paid private-sector fellowships in a variety of career paths. These are only a few examples of the DODs plan and you can read the statement in its entirety here

 School Could Soon Be in Session for Pre-K Military Kids

The Department of Defense is reportedly considering universal all-day pre-K for four years olds. This implementation could bring about more financial relief for dual military members as they could utilize the free all-day school for their kiddos a...