First Lady Melania Trump and Second Lady Usha Vance have once again teamed up to spread some pre-Thanksgiving cheer to military families.
Trump and Vance traveled to Alabama‘s Fort Rucker, an Army base, after traveling to a Marine base last year, their first joint outing during President Donald Trump‘s second term.
Trump and Vance’s military family outreach follows in the footsteps of the Joining Forces initiative launched by First Lady Michelle Obama and Second Lady Dr Jill Biden. Biden continued those events when she took her turn as First Lady during President Joe Biden‘s term.
‘I want to take a moment to say thank you to one very important group of people: the families of America’s military,’ said the First Lady, dressed in an Army green jacket. ‘Your role is profound.’
‘While your loved ones are deployed, it is up to you to keep your family strong, keep your children safe and keep your homes full of love,’ she continued. ‘This is a big responsibility.’
She then turned her attention to the broader American public, asking them to think about the sacrifice of those families this Thanksgiving.
‘To every American watching us today, in a few weeks, you will be sitting around your Thanksgiving table in the warmth of your own home, surrounded by your loved ones, sharing a wonderful meal and perhaps enjoying a football game on television,’ the First Lady said.
‘Take a moment to think of America’s service people and the families with an open seat at their Thanksgiving table,’ she encouraged. ‘Those families are just as important in maintaining America’s elite status and in protecting our freedom.’
First Lady Melania Trump asked Americans to remember the sacrifice of military families during an appearance Thursday at Alabama’s Fort Rucker, an Army base in Alabama, ahead of the Thanksgivng holiday
First Lady Melania Trump is photographed departing for Fort Rucker, in Alabama, on Thursday, where she spoke to a crowd of military families ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday alongside Second Lady Usha Vance
Second Lady Usha Vance (left) and First Lady Melania Trump (right) arrive in Dothan, Alabama on Thursday for a joint appearance before military families at the Army base, Fort Rucker
Second Lady Usha Vance was charged with introducing First Lady Melania Trump at Thursday’s event at Alabama’s Fort Rucker
Vance was charged with introducing the First Lady, whom she called a ‘wonderful travel companion, which goes without saying.’
She called attention to some of the First Lady’s efforts working with children.
Trump had launched the ‘Be Best’ initiative during the President’s first term and has operated her Fostering the Future and Fostering the Future Together initiatives under Be Best’s umbrella – projects that tackle improving the lives of foster care youth and helping young people deal with emerging technologies, respectively.
‘And I know that the First Lady shares my passion for giving children every opportunity to thrive, a cause she has made the central mission of her public life, and that inspires me every day,’ Vance said.
She also called Trump a ‘powerful voice for peace,’ with the First Lady helping secure a mini-ceasefire in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky and reuniting Ukrainian children with their families.
The First Lady hosted representatives of both Ukraine and Russia at the White House last week – pushing for a broader peace deal.
On Thursday, it was the children – and parents – of deployed service members that the spouses were focused on.
‘I know each of you has those quiet moments when you are on your own and you wish your loved one was home to help with homework, to be there to celebrate that winning touchdown, the birthdays, and, of course … bedtime,’ Trump acknowledged.
First Lady Melania Trump is escorted off a helicopter as she arrived Thursday, alongside Second Lady Usha Vance, to Fort Rucker in Alabama
First Lady Melania Trump (right) poses for a selfie during an event at Fort Rucker on Thursday in Alabama
First Lady Melania Trump waves to the crowd as she arrives Thursday to Fort Rucker, an Army base located outside of Dothan, Alabama
‘The sacrifices of military families don’t make the headlines, but you are the foundation of the world’s most capable military,’ she said.
‘Visiting military bases is special to me,’ Trump added.
The crowd greeted the spouses with large cheers.
After the remarks, the duo headed to Ellis D. Parker Elementary School, an educational facility on the base, which is located about 20 miles outside of Dothan, Alabama.
They engaged with kindergarteners and first graders, the First Lady’s office said.
