First Lady Makes Visit to Fort Bragg

Michelle Obama called on the nation to support military families in a speech she delivered Thursday in Fayetteville, N.C. The visit was her first trip away from Washington since her husband’s inauguration. She spent most of the day touring neighboring Fort Bragg, meeting with military spouses, and thanking members of the community for helping military families.

 

“Military families bear a very heavy burden,” Obama said. “As a nation we need to find ways to lighten their load.”

 

Calling Fayetteville, “a shining light,” Obama said that other cities should follow Fayetteville’s example by actively seeking ways to help active duty servicemembers, National Guardsmen, and reservists.

 

“I encourage everyone out there, within the sound of my voice, to reach out on your own – through schools, PTA, Little Leagues, churches, workplaces – and find out if there is a Soldier or a Soldier’s family right there in the community who needs a little extra support,” she said.

 

Earlier in the day she had lunch with Soldiers and then met privately with military spouses, where she vowed to support their families and they told her they were concerned about issues such as access to healthcare on post. She toured the Soldier Support Center, a building with some of its windows boarded up, which is the first stop for Soldiers in-processing to Fort Bragg. She also visited a childcare facility, where she read the Dr. Seuss book, The Cat in the Hat to a dozen preschoolers and helped other children make cards for wounded Soldiers.

 

Obama delivered her late afternoon speech in downtown Fayetteville to an invitation-only crowd of about 80 community volunteers and local officials. Many of those present had worked on the city’s Boots and Booties baby shower in November, which received national recognition for giving baby presents to more than 900 expecting and new military moms.

 

Wesley Baugess attended the speech Thursday afternoon. Bauguess’ husband, Maj. Larry J. Bauguess, Jr., was killed in Afghanistan in May 2007. She now works with the Wounded Warrior Committee at Fort Bragg. Bauguess said that prior to Obama's speech she was concerned that the first lady's pledge to help military families was not sincere.

 

“I was comforted by her statement to encourage everyday citizens to remember the wounded and the families of the fallen,” Bauguess said after the speech. “For her to recognize the wounded and the gold star families… I am touched.”

 

For Charlene Austin, whose husband, Lt. Gen. Lloyd Austin, is the commanding general of Fort Bragg, Obama’s visit was “a dream come true.” Austin spent much of the day near the first lady as she toured the post.

 

“We have a definite advocate and cheerleader for our families in her,” Austin said.

 

Austin said that, like many in the military community, she was impressed during the campaign when Mrs. Obama announced that military families would be one of her priorities. But, she said, the first lady’s visit to Fayetteville and Fort Bragg shows that she intends to keep her promise.