First Lady Thanks
Military Families at Homecoming
Michelle Obama promises
to ‘rally our country around you’
by Vivian Greentree
When the first lady of the United States visited Naval Station Norfolk on July 31 for a homecoming ceremony, she made it a point to honor the sacrifices of the families at home.
"We must all remember that when our troops are deployed, their families are left behind and faced with an entirely different set of duties," Michelle Obama told a crowd of 500 Sailors and their families, who were celebrating the return of the USS Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group and the USNS Comfort. “If you have the opportunity, just reach out and simply say thank you – sometimes that goes a long way – say thank you to the spouses and the children of our military members and thank them for their sacrifice because it is real and it is powerful.”
According to a recent survey by Blue Star Families, 94 percent of military families don't feel like their communities know of their struggles. Although Obama noted Norfolk is home to the world’s largest naval station, “in communities without a military presence, it's easier to lose sight of those who serve and their families,” she said.
Jennifer Taylor, a Navy spouse of 21 years, said she appreciated the message of camaraderie.
“I’ve joined the spouse support group at each command we’ve been at,” Taylor said. “As military spouses, we rely on each other and need to stay active in our communities. Those are the bonds that help us through the deployments.”
Obama suggested small ways communities could support their military families, such as offering to carpool or bringing over dinner. She also emphasized the importance of helping spouses build meaningful careers throughout their moves and challenged businesses to hire them when they relocate.
Angie Morgan, a Marine veteran and spouse, said she would love to see more incentives for businesses to hire military spouses, as well as encouragement for them to locate near bases.
“The capabilities and talents of spouses are underutilized,” Morgan said. “We move and lose footing. It would benefit everyone – the families and the communities – to help spouses maintain their careers as they move.”
Obama also met separately with Navy leaders and local spouses, including Michelle Galvez, an ombudsman for her husband’s command. Galvez said the first lady was very gracious and asked personal questions about her life as a military spouse.
“The biggest thing she can do is to raise awareness for our lifestyle – the pride we have and the challenges we face,” Galvez said. “She can’t directly institute policy but she is using her influence to improve communication and understanding of our lives. I was just very impressed with how she connected personally to us.”
After the meeting, Galvez said she dropped by the Commissary, and laughed at the contrast.
“Just another day in the life of a military spouse,” she said. “You take the unexpected with the routine. I got to meet with the first lady, and then I had to get to the store.”
The trip marked Obama’s second visit to a military installation as part of her effort to champion military families. In March, she travelled to Fort Bragg in North Carolina. She is also serving as the sponsor of the Coast Guard Cutter Stratton, which is being built in Pascagoula, Miss.
