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NORFOLK
In a visit to Norfolk Naval Station on Friday, first lady Michelle Obama urged Americans to lend more support to military families in their communities.
Clad in a red-and-white floral sundress, Obama spoke to sailors - and their families - who returned home Thursday aboard the carrier Eisenhower and the hospital ship Comfort.
According to a recent survey by the military organization Blue Star Families, most military families don't think their neighbors understand the struggles they face.
On a pier as the docked Comfort loomed behind her, Obama stressed to the crowd of about 500 people that simple gestures - helping with a car pool, bringing over a meal, offering a shoulder to cry on - can make a difference.
The first lady urged business owners to employ military spouses, and she said lawyers, accountants and health care workers should consider offering free services to military families.
"Or simply saying thank you goes a long way," she added.
Pay raises for military members, career development for military spouses and more financial assistance for housing are some of the initiatives the administration is working on, Obama said.
Earlier Friday morning, Obama met with naval officers at the Pennsylvania House on base to discuss how the Navy works to support deployed families and their sailors.
After her speech, Obama mingled with the crowd, shook hands and thanked sailors for their service abroad.
Intelligence Spc. 1st Class Kristopher Meaney, who served aboard the Comfort, was glad Obama recognized the sacrifices of military spouses.
"It takes a strong individual to take care of a family when their spouse leaves," said Meaney, who particularly liked the idea of spouses receiving job-placement assistance.
Julie Gill, whose husband served aboard the Comfort, said she would like to see more financial support given to military families.
Obama showed that she cares about what military families go through, said Dara Penkrot, a civilian who works as a liaison between commanding officers and military spouses.
In order for members to continue to serve the country, strong family support is key, Penkrot said.
"You can't have a sailor deployed without having someone behind them."
Jaedda Armstrong, (757) 222-5846, jaedda.armstrong@pilotonline.com
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She forgot!
She forgot to "Thank them" for paying taxes that will support their week's vacation in August in "THE HAMPTONS" at a $20 MILLION Dollar Estate at $50,000.00 for the week. (After, Obama said in April that they would "probably" not take a vacation this summer.) And Lord knows how much for the cost of Air Force One, Secret Service & Security? 1/2 Mil?
Most of these wonderful Military families cannot even afford a week at Nags Head!
I'm sure she will be wearing her "J.Crew" tops to make us think that they are not "high rollers!"
Just mad with myself for voting for a FAKE!
While talking about fakes...
Perusing pLamastra's backlog of comments available for all to read on this site, it would be hard to be sympathetic for plamastra's apparently insincere self-reflection on being duped.
In the Navy, we called this malady TWT i.e. Trouble With Truth. Or, perhaps it's just the latest disingenuous GOP point of attack.
P.S. you might want to check out Bush's 487 days at Camp David and 490 on his Texas ranch. That's alot of time on vacation. But pLamastra probably already knew that.
misdirected speech, i think
The First Lady was encouraging others to reach out and help a military family. Wasn't her audience predominantly military? I would think the speech should have been on thank yous, jobs well done, and our nations dependence on these guys in detailed format. Her speech seems more appropriate directed to civillans.
No, I don't like any of the Obama's socialistic views but the reason I point this out is not to put her down but to point out a more appropriate way to support our military.
Geezz..Give it a rest...
The First lady, regardless of party affiliation, issuing a "well done" live and in person is a great thing. Anyone who reads my posts know I'm no fan of Obama, or THE Obamas, but this is certainly a good thing being done for our troops (well, sailors and Marines in this case!).
Lighten up!
Yes!
It's not like she is the president you know! Do you wanna bet the same would have been true if President Obama had attended?
The Visit of Michelle Obama
To listen to the comments made by Michelle Obama, one would think that SHE is the first one to bring the needs of the military families to the attention of the military and the public .
The military has in place such services to be of assistance to those who are in need, and avail themselves of the help that is required ....the Chaplin's, Navy Relief, Ombudsmen, for each ship, and believe it or not, women and men who are supportive of each other.
The military commands are trained to help when they are called upon. I do not know what I would have done without the support from all of the above mentioned navy organizations.
Jobs are another issue ... we have been told that we are in the Worst Recession, so jobs are at a premium. If taxes were lowered,and run away spending curtailed, maybe the job market would rebound.
It was also mentioned that the VA is lacking in services to retired personnel. During the Bush Administration the problems were addressed, and there is money for retired personnel. Check out the local VA.
Does any one remember that President Obama wanted veterans to carry private health insurance to cover the estimated $540 Million annual cost to t
Obama's wife
Does anyone believe these sailors attended this event because they wanted to? Oh, I almost forgot, she graduated from Harvard and that makes her soooooo smart. The only people there that wanted to be there was the Black Nurse Association. The White Nurse Association might have been there if they had one but it would be racist if they formed one.
speech
The USS Eisenhower carries 6,000 Sailors and Marines. I don't know how many on the USNS Comfort. A whole 500 from the crew of both ships and their families stuck around to hear this. Oh yes, I'm impressed, ha!
I'm a veteran!
Having served 22 years in the military, I fully support president Obama!
You conservatives love to think that the republican party always have the best interests of veterans and active duty members in mind. Take a good look at the Veterans Administration for example and you will see that the republicans are always opposed to funding that could help eliminate the backlog of over 600,000 veteran claims. I would rather live in a socialist country than live in a country where the "free-market" decides who lives and dies just to protect the old mighty dollar. The republican admin separated this country along economic lines.
The conservatives did very well and many of us paid the price for their success. Many of you blame others for not being as successful as yourselves but you benefited from the "welfare" of government as much as anyone. You conservatives "donated" more cars to "charities" such as the CHKD than anyone. I bet most of you got really nice "welfare" tax breaks for doing so. BTW, where are all the car donations since they eliminated most of the tax-breaks? This country and the military will be better served having a president and first lady who knows the struggles that we
Bye
Don't let the door hit you on the way out. Try reading the Constitution and maybe you will understand the limits placed on the federal government.