AMVETS at the White House for Roll-Out of "Joining Forces"

Yesterday AMVETS National Acting Legislative Director Christina Roof joined President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, the nation's top military brass and leading veterans' advocates at the White House for the roll-out of a new program by First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden to serve military families called "Joining Forces."

Joining Forces is the latest in a string of initiatives from Obama and Biden designed to meet the needs of military men and women and their loved ones who have borne the burdens of war for nearly a decade.

During the announcement, Obama said she felt that Americans were grateful for the sacrifices America's military families have made over the years, but that many civilians were simply disconnected from the rigors of military life.

Retired U.S. Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal was tapped by the White House to head the new initiative, designed to help Americans connect with military families and offer support while their loved ones continue to defend the American way of life.

The fledgling "Joining Forces" Web site currently includes an overview of the program, ways for Americans to become involved, and a link where visitors can send personal messages to troops.

Roof said she was honored to represent AMVETS at such a critical announcement and looks forward to working with the White House and her colleagues in veterans' advocacy to support the initiative.

Below is the official White House video explaining "Joining Forces":



(Photo: President Barack Obama discusses the importance of serving America's military families during yesterday's roll-out of "Joining Forces" in the East Room at White House. Photo by Christina Roof. Video: Official video explaining "Joining Forces," courtesy of the White House, released.)

UPDATE: Cmdr. Hotop Reacts to White House Announcement on Military Families

This morning, AMVETS National Commander Jerry Hotop joined the nation's top veterans advocates alongside President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden for a report on the Presidential Directive on Military Families.

First Lady Obama and Dr. Biden, who have each made military families a top priority during the administration, presented "Strengthening Our Military Families," an overview of the Administration's top four priorities for ensuring military families have all the tools to succeed across the federal government.

The 15 cabinet secretaries and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency each signed a statement of support to the Administration's goals which include enhancing the overall well-being and psychological health of the military family, ensuing excellence in military children's education and development, developing career and educational opportunities for military spouses, and increasing child care availability and quality within the U.S. armed forces.

Cmdr. Hotop said he was honored to be a part of the morning's significant announcement and called it a critical step in ensuring that the federal government meets the needs of military families, but also called for results now that the vision is laid out.

"We've seen tremendous investment in assisting veterans and military families through the current administration, so AMVETS was happy to see this morning's promising report," Hotop said. "However, I'm from Missouri, so show me results. This is why AMVETS stands ready to work with our partners within each federal agency to ensure the promises to our military families are kept."

To read the official White House statement on this morning's announcement, Click Here.

(Image: The statement of support to military families, as signed by each cabinet secretary. Image is contained in "Strengthening Our Military Families," a White House publication.)

White House to host Cmdr. Hotop, Top Veterans' Advocates to Discuss Military Families

This morning, AMVETS National Commander Jerry Hotop will head to the White House, alongside President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, and Dr. Jill Biden, for an update on the Presidential Directive on Military Families.

AMVETS and the nation's other leading veterans' advocates are eager to hear details on the study commissioned in May through the departments of Defense, Homeland Security, Veterans Affairs and additional federal agencies on how to best engage and support military families.

The study, which was announced last May, set out to identify key military family concerns, review private and public programs designed to support military families to identify positive outcomes, develop options to integrate military family concerns into strategic and budgetary priorities, examine federal policies and programs to offer opportunities to military families, identify ways to leverage skills of military family members, and strengthening feedback mechanisms for military families to voice their needs and concerns.

American Veteran will follow this morning's announcement closely, with reaction from Cmdr. Hotop and more details this afternoon on the blog.

To read the official White House announcement of the review, Click Here.

Veterans Day 2009: AMVETS Family joins President; Vice President for Special Events Around Nation's Capitol

On Veterans Day 2009, AMVETS National Commander Duane J. Miskulin joined President Barack Obama, VA Secretary Eric Shinseki, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and leaders from the nation's other leading VSOs for a special breakfast in the East Room at the White House , followed by a memorial ceremony and a somber wreath-laying at Arlington National Cemetery.

That afternoon, AMVETS legislative and communications staff joined Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden for a veterans' luncheon at the Vice President's residence. Biden delivered a heart-felt speech acknowledging the sacrifices of not only America's military men and women, but also the parents, spouses, children and other loved ones who have stood by their service members throughout American history.

Biden recalled meeting a WWII veteran in Europe while commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Normandy landing. Biden said that when he thanked the man for his service, the man took his wife's hand and told then-Senator Biden that it was in fact his wife who made it all possible.

Biden went on to say that the only solemn obligation of our federal government is caring for the veterans who have fought in defense of our nation and that he was honored to be in a position to ensure that our nation upholds its obligation.

AMVETS leaders were on hand for other events around the nation's capitol for Veterans Day. American Veteran is in the process of collecting additional photos and details of the day's events. Check back on Monday for additional updates.

If your post or department would like to share its Veterans Day photos and stories, please let us know. American Veteran is eager to tell the story of AMVETS who commemorated the holiday nationwide.

(Photo: Vice President Joe Biden thanks veterans assembled at the Vice President's home for their service on Veterans Day. Photo by Ryan Gallucci.)