Jan 24, 2011
The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. is saluting President Obama for launching a new national campaign to support and strengthen the quality of life programs provided to military families in the areas of psychological health and wellbeing, children's education and development, military spouse career and educational opportunities, and increasing child care availability and quality at military installations everywhere.
The president's initiative is unprecedented, in that it now tasks every cabinet secretary with a specific role to help better the quality of life of all military families. The program was rolled out today in the East Room of the White House with members of the Joint Chiefs and the president's cabinet in attendance, as well as VFW Washington Office Executive Director Bob Wallace.
"Military families need all the support and recognition our nation can provide," said VFW National Commander Richard L. Eubank, a retired Marine and Vietnam combat veteran from Eugene, Ore., who agrees with the president that much has been accomplished, but more can still be done at every level of government.
"Less than one percent of our population has been at war now for more than nine years, and so, too, have been their families, who carry the additional burden of having a spouse, child or parent in a warzone," said Eubank.
"We can never do enough to support those who support our troops the most, so this initiative to better address their concerns and eliminate obstacles to success is a huge step in the right direction," he said.
"We are grateful to the president for his continuing commitment and especially to First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden for pushing military family issues to the forefront of national awareness.
More details on the new national initiative can be found on the White House website at http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/01/24/presidential-initiative-supports-military-families.