Subscribe
CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - The first lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, and Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, visited the service members and their families Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, to kick-off their Joining Forces campaign, at the Goettge Memorial Field House, aboard the base, April 13.
The Joining Forces campaign is a national initiative that gets all sectors of society involved in providing service members and their families the opportunities they deserve.
According to the campaign's web site, Obama and Biden's drive comes from the simple fact that service members represent only one percent of the nation's population. However, service members take on the responsibility to protect and serve the entire nation under any circumstances, such as missing birthdays, anniversaries, graduations and so many of the daily moments they enjoy with their loved ones.
"You go about your business every day, lifting up your communities, volunteering at your schools, lending a hand to your neighbors," said Biden. "You do it all while carrying a heavier burden than most folks can imagine. You are truly remarkable."
Biden, whose son is a soldier in the Delaware National Guard, added that she and the first lady were impressed at the cohesion between the base and the community, which is one of the reasons why Camp Lejeune was their first stop on the Joining Forces campaign.
"The people in the surrounding Camp Lejeune community who are supporting our troops and their families are showing all Americans there are countless ways to help, some large and many small, but all are important," said Biden. "I can tell you, from personal experience, they all appreciate it. That's why the first lady and I are here today, because we need all Americans to support our military families the way you do it here."
Obama opened her speech by highlighting some of the sacrifices that military families go through. All the while, these families keep an unbroken level of support and love for their troops.
"While all of this is enough to fill any family's plate, yours is also full of so much more," said Obama. "It includes everything that comes with having a family member in the military and America needs to know."
Obama added that most Americans are unaware that with each move to a new base or station, it means yet another school for the military family's kids and a new job for the spouse.
"With each deployment, you run your household by yourself and you watch as your kids grow up just a little bit faster because mom or dad is away," said Obama. "And night after night, you pray that the next newscast or the next knock on the door will bring only good news. You do it all with such dignity, with such grace, that most Americans don't even realize what you're going through."
Obama said that military families are so good at functioning under these unique circumstances that it's almost like they're ‘wearing camouflage,' even though they aren't the ones on the battlefield.
"People can't always see your special brand of service because you don't wear it on your sleeve," said Obama.
Senator Kay Hagan, D. NC, and also the Armed Service Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities chairwoman, said that she, like Biden and Obama, honor the sacrifices that these military men and women do every day. One of the reasons the troops are able to sacrifice so readily is because of their families enduring support.
"Behind each and every [service member] is a family," said Hagan. "Whether it's a husband or wife, son or daughter, those are the ones that make it easy for these service members to do their jobs in our military. I think being here in North Carolina, where we are such a military friendly state, we need to have the rest of the nation look at us for the good job we're doing for our troops and increase it even more."
The senator added that her plan of action to aid in the campaign is to create a bill called the Hire a Hero Act, which provides more job opportunities for spouses and service members transitioning out of the military.
"We need to do anything that we can do to encourage business," said Hagan. "That's why I'm working on the bill, which will give small businesses up to a $4,000 in credit if they hire a veteran, [member of the] National Guard or a reservist. The other big factor is the education benefit. The spouses are very appreciative of that and using it to further their educations."
Capt. James Smolucha, Company H executive officer with the School of Infantry - East, said he had high hopes for Hagan's Hiring for Heroes program.
"I think it's going to be a great program," said Smolucha. "It gives [service members who get out] something to start with. When they do get out, they're going to need to continue to support their family, especially in today's economy."
Smolucha added that the importance he was privileged that the first lady, Biden and Sen. Hagan took the time to come out and speak to Camp Lejeune's service members.
"I know they have a very busy schedule, so I think it shows a big commitment on their part to come down and actually talk to us," said Smolucha. "This is a very tight community, between the civilians and the military personnel. It's always great to hear praises, but for us, we're just doing our jobs."
Col. Grover Lewis, MCB Camp Lejeune director of public safety, enjoyed the visit as well and believes the Joining Forces campaign will provide a much brighter future for the area's military community.
"The visit was great," said Lewis. "It was a good experience for the Marines, sailors and their families. The initiatives that Mrs. Obama, Senator Hagan and Dr. Biden brought out will do volumes for this military community of ours."
| Date Taken: | 04.13.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 04.22.2011 09:38 |
| Story ID: | 69167 |
| Location: | NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 42 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Joining Forces campaign first stop: Camp Lejeune, by Damany Coleman, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
