In Fla., first lady praises military families

In Fla., first lady praises military families
By Gary Fineout -
The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Apr 13, 2012

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — First Lady Michelle Obama steered clear of an ongoing political controversy over mothers and work and instead used a Thursday evening stop in Jacksonville to praise military families. Mrs. Obama visited Naval Air Station Jacksonville as part of the one-year anniversary of her Joining Forces program, which aims to help veterans and their families.

BOB SELF / THE FLORIDA TIMES-UNION VIA AP First Lady Michelle Obama and the teen daughters of military families react to the annoucement that they would receive gift certificates from JCPenney on Thursday at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Fla. Mrs. Obama visited NAS Jacksonville as part of the one-year anniversary of her Joining Forces program.

She was greeted in a wide-open hangar by hundreds of high-school aged girls whose parents are in the military. During the hour-long event, television star Ellen DeGeneres appeared remotely via a big projection screen and told all of the young women that they were getting a $250 department store gift card that they can use for their upcoming proms.

The first lady said it was important to recognize that the children of people in the military are also making sacrifices and must often move from school-to-school, or deal with prolonged absences of one of their parents.

“You have lived lives that make you incredibly special,” Mrs. Obama said. “...You don’t take your families for granted.”
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