By tamara As we head into the holiday season, I often think of those who serve our country. While we are enjoying our feasts among family and friends, many military personnel are overseas risking their lives for our freedom. Some are working in the Middle East under hostile conditions, while others may be stationed at sea. No matter where they are, one thing remains the same: they put their lives on the line for us every day. The sacrifices they make are many. They face long absences from their families, losing the comforts of home and, for some, the ultimate sacrifice – losing their lives. We salute those who have served in the military by highlighting some of the military scholarships that are available for service members and their families. Children of Warriors National President Scholarship: To apply, you must be a U.S. student who is the child or grandchild of a veteran who served during eligibility dates for membership in The America Legion (served during WWI, WWII, the Korean War, Vietnam War, Granada Conflict, Lebanon Conflict, Panama Conflict, or Desert Storm/Desert Shield). Applicants must also be high school seniors and complete 50 hours of community service. A total of 15 awards. valued between $1,500 and $2,500, are available. Deadline: March 1. Base/Post Scholarship: International and U.S. high school seniors or older may apply (up to age 24). To apply, you must be the child or legal dependent of an active duty uniformed services member (this includes members of the drilling reserve and National Guard) and plan to attend college full time. There are a total of 25 awards available at $1,000 each. Deadline: March 1. Navy Wives Clubs of America Scholarship: This award is for U.S. high school seniors or older. To apply, you must be the son or daughter of a member of the Navy, Marines or Coast Guard who is enlisted on active duty, retired with pay or deceased. Each applicant must also have a grade point average of 2.5 or higher. A total of 30 renewable scholarships ranging from $500 to $1,000 will be awarded. Deadline: May 30. Pat Tillman Military Scholars Program: U.S. students who are currently enrolled or plan to enroll in undergraduate or graduate degree programs may apply. To apply, you must be a veteran, active service member (pre- and/or post-9/11 military service), or the dependent (spouse or child under the age of 30) of a veteran, active or deceased service member. The total number of renewable awards varies, with amounts ranging from $1,500 to $23,000. Deadline: March 6. As you sit around the table this holiday season enjoying your food and family, take a moment to pause and give thanks for those who have sacrificed so much for our country. The freedoms you enjoy are a result of their commitment to serve. And if you are a service member or a veteran – Thank You! For more information on other available military scholarship programs, be sure to use a free online scholarship search tool, such as ScholarshipExperts.com!