In my humble Christmas message to our troops still in harm’s way, I said that it would probably be my last post before the holidays.
But, then, along come the President of the United States and the First Lady with their Christmas Greetings, Best Wishes, and Thank You for our troops and their families — and I thought you would like to know…
In their message, the First Couple wish all Americans a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, but in particular say to our troops:
So this week let’s give thanks for our veterans and their families. And let’s say a prayer for all our troops – especially those in Afghanistan – who are spending this holiday overseas, risking their lives to defend the freedoms we hold dear.
And remember, when our men and women in uniform answer the call to serve, their families serve right along with them. Across this country, military spouses have been raising their families all alone during those long deployments. And let’s not forget about our military kids, moving from base to base – and school to school – every few years, and stepping up to help out at home when mom or dad is away.
Our military families sacrifice so much on our behalf, and Barack and I believe that we should serve them as well as they serve this country. That’s why Dr. Jill Biden and I started Joining Forces – an effort to rally all Americans to honor and support our veterans and military families. Just go to joiningforces.gov to find out how you can show your gratitude for their service.
But, hear the entire message for yourself by clicking on the video below, or reading it here
And, once again, Merry Christmas to all.
Image: Courtesy White House
The author is a retired U.S. Air Force officer and a writer.