First Lady Promotes Vet Service Groups

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First Lady Promotes Vet Service Groups
November 12, 2009
Military.com|by Bryant Jordan

First Lady Michelle Obama praised the courage and dedication of American service members yesterday during a Veterans Day speech that also championed a national campaign to partner community service organizations with groups focused on active-duty and reserve troops, their families and veterans.

"I'm in awe of sacrifices they make," she said of the country's Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen. "If you think about it, a tiny fraction of our population is bearing the burden of eight years of war, serving tour after tour of duty, missing out on birthdays and anniversaries and those precious moments with the people that they love most."

Mrs. Obama, along with Dr. Jill Biden, Vice President Joe Biden's wife, and Alma Powell, wife of former Secretary of State Colin Powell, was at The George Washington University in Washington to promote Mission Serve, a national effort to coordinate operations among military and civilian community groups.

During the event the key sponsor, Service Nation - itself a coalition of more than 200 organizations, including the military-focused Blue Star Families, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, and the National Alliance of Faith and Justice - bestowed its inaugural Award of Excellence in Military and Civilian Service to Mrs. Powell. Mrs. Powell is chairwoman of America's Promise Alliance, a partnership of about 300 corporations, nonprofits, advocacy and faith-based groups that work to improve children's' lives.

""I am really deeply honored to receive this award," she said. "It is through selfless acts that we become our better selves … Service is at the heart of everything we do.


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