First Lady's Priority: Taking Care Of Military Families
(February 3, 2010) |
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BOLLING AIR FORCE BASE, D.C. (1/27/2010 - AFNS) -- First
lady Michelle Obama was the featured speaker at the Joint
Armed Forces Officers' Wives Club's 32nd annual luncheon
Jan. 26 at the Bolling Officers Club here.
About 400 spouses from all branches of the military gathered
to hear Mrs. Obama share her insights on military families,
and announce a record budget request for military family
support initiatives in her husband's forthcoming budget. |
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| First Lady Michelle Obama speaks at the Joint Armed Forces Officers' Wives Club 32nd annual luncheon Jan. 26, 2010, at Bolling Air Force Base, D.C. Since the organization's beginning in 1977, the officers' spouses' clubs from the five military services in the Washington area form a coordinating committee to arrange the annual event. |
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"You are all leaders in your own right," the first lady
said. "You are that vital link between your husbands and the
troops they command ... making sure their needs, and those
of their families, are heard, and met. You're that mom away
from home, the person other military wives go to for advice
and support. And you do all this for other families even as
your own families serve. For that alone, you deserve this
nation's unending gratitude."
She recognized several groups for their service, including
military wives and "Blue Star" mothers, women who have
personally served in uniform, and the Arlington Ladies; a
"remarkable group of ladies" who, for 40 years, have ensured
no American is ever buried alone at Arlington National
Cemetery in Virginia.
The first lady also spoke about her family's first year in
office, and their first year in a new city, new house, new
school and more.
"And so when people ask me what I am most proud of this
first year, I have two responses," Mrs. Obama said. "As a
mother, I'm most proud that our two girls have adjusted and
built a new life here and are happy and healthy. As first
lady, at the top of the list is the time I have spent
highlighting the service of our incredible military
families."
She spoke about some of her and Jill Biden's, vice
president's wife and "Blue Star Mom," visits to various
military installations and their goal of listening to, and
learning about, the needs of military families.
"All of you -- our troops and families -- you do your duty
and you do it without complaint," she said. "You give your
all and ask little in return, only that we back you up, so
our troops can do their job. That's why my husband and his
administration have worked to do right by our armed forces
and their families ... to be there for you like you have
been there for us ... to lighten your load as you have
lightened ours."
She then spoke of the president's move to increase the size
of the military. Also, about how his first budget included
military pay raises, funding for better military housing,
more money for childcare, and funds for spousal counseling
and support.
The budget also included the largest percentage increase in
the Veterans Affairs budget in more than 30 years and money
to improve care and treatment of wounded warriors.
Mrs. Obama said she was also especially proud of the work of
her husband and Congress to extend the Family and Medical
Leave Act to all military families and caregivers of wounded
warriors.
"I'm happy to announce that the president's 2011 budget,
that he'll introduce next week, will further increase
funding for military family support programs, by more than 3
percent, to a record $8.8 billion," the first lady said.
"This includes additional increases in funds for counseling
and support to spouses and families -- including our Guard
and Reserve families -- to $1.9 billion. It includes $1.3
billion to reduce shortages in military child care and to
keep our military child care among the best this country has
to offer."
Mrs. Obama spoke about the effects of military life on
children and how they serve in their own way every time one
of their parents is called to duty. She also explained that
part of the allotted budget includes funds to improve and
build new Department of Defense Dependents Schools stateside
and overseas.
"We can never forget just how much these wars affect our
military kids," she said. "And we all have an obligation to
ensure they have the support they need at home and at
school."
She said this money is budgeted toward these "major
investments" as part of an ongoing commitment to care for
troops and their families, even after the fighting ends.
One of her priorities includes asking all Americans to join
the cause of supporting military families, because, in
addition to government, supporting troops and their families
require active citizens.
"Our men and women in uniform and their families sacrifice
for every single one of us; and every single one of us can
do something in return, even if it's as simple as saying
'thank you,'" she said. "As first lady, I can't thank you
all enough and I promise you that I will use every ounce of
my being to make sure that America always takes care of
you."
Mrs. Obama joined a line of distinguished speakers at the
officers' spouses' club event including Defense Secretary
Robert Gates, former first ladies Laura Bush and Hillary
Rodham Clinton (current secretary of state), former
Secretary of State Colin Powell, retired Army general and
chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff John Shalikashvili,
and former President George W. Bush. |
USAF TSgt. Chyenne Adams
11th Wing Public Affairs
U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Tim Chacon
Copyright 2010 |
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Reprinted from
Air Force News Service
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