It was a busy Veterans Day for First Lady Michelle Obama. She accompanied her as they laid a wreath at The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, attended the memorial service for troops in Fort Hood, Texas, and continued her commitment to veterans by launching Mission Serve at George Washington University in DC.
Supporting Military families is one of First Lady’s main causes as she continues to highlight issues that are important to them. So it was fitting that on Veterans Day she was advocating for assistance for military families as part of good citizenship.
We always hear of nation building by our troops in foreign lands, but this is a new kind of nation building that FLOTUS spoke about as she honored our nation’s veterans together with Dr Jill Biden and her role model Alma Powell. FLOTUS stated that the Obama administration had made the largest percentage increase to Veterans department in thirty years….wow! POTUS signed an executive order to increase the number of veteran hires in the Federal government as well continuing his commitment to veterans. Veterans need all the help they can get after all the sacrifices that they made for us. FLOTUS added that servicemen and women want to serve their country whether in foreign lands or at home to turn around failing schools and rebuild communities so she encouraged them to help because they are valued and needed. To read the First Lady’s remarks click here.
Since The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act was signed by President Obama how have you been involved in your community to help your country?
Posted by Patty Jones
10 Comments, Comment or Ping
Aminah Hanan
It was good seeing Alma Powell. I hope we see more of her.
Nov 12th, 2009
BC
I love all of Michelle’s outfits. She looks great as does Jill Biden, doing something so positive for America.
Nov 12th, 2009
Lonni
Since I am a Veteran of the VietNam Era, a US Navy WAVE, I’m choosing to reserve judgment on this. Every year over 2000 Vets die because they can’t get the health care they need….the VA “rations” care according to the level of the Veterans need in accord with whether it is service-connected or not and then decided on by the amount of income a Vet has. Many Vets fall through the cracks. If Obama plugs up the cracks then I’ll believe it. Until then, it’s just more political manueverings of a voting base. Pretty clothes aside, reality is always the harbinger of things to come.
Nov 12th, 2009
red
Lonni, why don’t you help put the pressure on Tom Coburn who is holding up the Veteran bill that helps Veteran and their care givers? The problem is the GOP bull Sheet!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/#33871852
Nov 12th, 2009
BC
Lonni, you should have voiced your concerns to President Bush Jr when he entered office then it would have given him a full 8 years to try and do something about health care for veterans. Obama hasn’t even been in office for a year and already he is addressing health care, hence the reform that is going ahead. I think given the circumstances, you more than anyone would be qualified NOT to reserve judgement on this ocassion, wouldn’t you ?
Nov 12th, 2009
admin
Lonni, Thank you very much for your service to the nation and Happy Belated Veterans Day.
Nov 12th, 2009
Lonni
Red, I would put pressure or, at least, send a respectful letter to Tom Coburn but it is my understanding that the Vet Bill has been passed and signed. To add a small craveat to that however, President Obama was instrumental in causing the Social Security Administration to lose it’s COLA award for the next two years. That, in turn, affects VA benefits as we are slated under the same percentage levels as Social Security instead of the Military budget for compensation increases. So, to add with one hand and take away with the other seems to be a common practice no matter who is in the WH.
BC, as a matter of fact, I spent quite a bit of time in contact with Washington, DC during Bush’s tenure as I was sometimes homeless or living well below the poverty level raising children and a grandchild while I was seeking service-connected benefits.
Admin: Thank you for your kind words. I do take them to heart.
Nov 12th, 2009
Dee
I am very pleased to see the First Lady, and Dr. Jill Biden drawing attention to serving, honouring and supporting Veteran servicemen and women.
Many members of the general public who are not aware of the hardships that are often endured by these incredibly brave people, following the sacrifices they have made on behalf of their country will be moved to find out how they are able to help, whether that assistance be by way of offering their time and/or money.
Here in Britain, November is the month when we remember those who gave their lives for us during times of war; this is when you will see red paper poppies being sold in our streets. These are sold by the Royal British legion, a charity dedicated to helping war veterans.
11th November is Remembrance Day, the day when we remember those who sacrificed their lives during the two world wars, and other conflicts.
We have Remembrance Sunday on the second Sunday in November, which is usually the Sunday closest to 11th November. There are special services at churches and war memorials across Britain, and there is a national ceremony at The Cenotaph in Whitehall, London, where The Queen lays the first wreath.
We observe a 2 minute silence at 11.00am on Remembrance Sunday in public places, church services and war memorials. At my workplace, and in public places across the land we had a two minute silence at 11.00am on theTuesday, just gone. The silence that falls and the way it is kept is very moving.
I came across this, and thought, it describes a different time,and we no longer have the horses, and most of the trams have gone, but the first stroke of 11.00am can still produce “a magical effect”.
The First Two Minute Silence in London (11th November 1919) as reported in the Manchester Guardian, 12th November 1919.
‘The first stroke of eleven produced a magical effect.
The tram cars glided into stillness, motors ceased to cough and fume, and stopped dead, and the mighty-limbed dray horses hunched back upon their loads and stopped also, seeming to do it of their own volition.
Someone took off his hat, and with a nervous hesitancy the rest of the men bowed their heads also. Here and there an old soldier could be detected slipping unconsciously into the posture of ‘attention’. An elderly woman, not far away, wiped her eyes, and the man beside her looked white and stern. Everyone stood very still … The hush deepened. It had spread over the whole city and become so pronounced as to impress one with a sense of audibility. It was a silence which was almost pain … And the spirit of memory brooded over it all.’
Nov 13th, 2009
Patty Jones
Lonni,
Thank you for your service to our nation. It is much appreciated. So in your opinion what do vets really need? Please educate us.
Nov 13th, 2009
LC
i thought that the president and the 1st lady made a striking couple at the ft hood memorial service. michelle looked very elegant and graceful. i loved the president’s remarks and how he named every victim in remembrance. my heart is broken over this senseless tragedy and i believe justice will prevail!
Nov 14th, 2009