NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Dr. Jill Biden, wife of U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, spoke at Lee Hall Elementary School in Newport News, Va., for the first anniversary of the Joining Forces initiative April 25.
The initiative was launched a year ago by Biden and first lady Michelle Obama to help schools better meet the needs of military-connected children and their families.
"One of the best parts of my role as second lady is spending time with so many veterans and military families," Biden said. "I've traveled to bases across this country and the world, and I'm always inspired by the strength, the resilience and the pride of our military families."
According to the Office of the Vice President, there are 1.3 million school-aged, military-connected children. About 147,000 of those children have a parent who is currently deployed, and, on average, military children attend six to nine different schools throughout their school careers.
Navy Adm. James A. Winnefeld, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, also spoke at the event on the importance of supporting military children and their families.
"We all know the unique challenges and stresses associated with being a military child," said Winnefeld. "This team effort between the Department of Defense and Old Dominion University's [ODU] and our schools...to recognize these needs will ensure the long term success of our military children."
As part of the Joining Forces campaign, ODU's Center for Education Partnership in Norfolk, Va., partnered with Newport News Public Schools to start a program called Teaching Education and Awareness for Military-Connected Students. TEAMS received a $2.5 million grant last year from the Department of Defense Education Activity Partnership Grant Program.
According to ODU's Office of University Relations, TEAMS hopes to create a learning environment that will meet the academic, social and emotional needs of military children in two local middle schools and five elementary schools, including Lee Hall.
"Nowhere is this work more important than in Virginia, which educates more than 70,000 military children," said Biden. "Virginia has stepped up and shown its commitment to making life easier for highly mobile military kids."
As the ceremony concluded, Biden expressed her gratitude for the support military families have received.
"We've been so inspired by the many ways Americans all across this country are taking action to honor, celebrate and support our military families," said Biden.
For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.
For more news from Navy Public Affairs Support Element, Norfolk, visit www.navy.mil/local/pacennorfolk/.
| Date Taken: |
04.25.2012 |
| Date Posted: |
10.09.2012 00:23 |
| Story ID: |
95865 |
| Location: |
NEWPORT NEWS, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: |
39 |
| Downloads: |
0 |
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