As far as I am concerned, we do not give military widows [spouses] anything. The compensation they receive is, and should be considered, justified as part of the contractual obligation we as a nation incur in relationship to the service rendered our country by their husbands [spouses]. I agree that it is pathetically small -- but I consider it to be more than earned and not a gift.
SoS
Of course it is not a gift, and I certainly did not mean it in that way.
I'll use a thesaurus next time I post.