First lady says skills of vets help at home

[unhappycamper]

First lady says skills of vets help at home
By Christine Simmons - The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Nov 12, 2009 10:34:32 EST

WASHINGTON — First lady Michelle Obama said on Wednesday that many veterans want to serve their communities and nation in ways that "make their entire life a tour of duty."

Mrs. Obama also acknowledged the sacrifices that troops and their families endure under combat, saying they are "a tiny fraction of our population 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."

She told service groups, students and veterans at George Washington University that what service-members learn abroad is very useful for communities trying to overcome challenges at home.

"For many of these folks, service is the air they breathe," she said. "They don't just want to serve for a certain number of years of deployment."

Communities need veterans' knowledge in technical skills such as engineering, logistics and public safety, she said.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/11/ap_michelle_obama_111209/