435,000 Veterans and Military spouses will get a job!

Ok so to learn more about the WH Annoucement  check it out…IF you didn’t know but on Tuesday April 30, 2013 the WH invited military Spouses, DOD personnel and high ranking officials to this Join Forces Announcement  and I was really thrilled to be going as a military spouse blogger. So for the first part of this story (it is about HOW we almost didn’t make it into the event) if you want to hear about the Joining Forces Announcement below skip this, or read this for your pleasure.  

So while the first part of this event didn’t GO as smooth as I liked, and if it wasn’t for Lori from AF Wife Life  I would have totally said forget this hassle and left. So we both had our papers from PopSugar/Circle of Moms and we arrived at the North West Gate like it stated.

SO not only was it raining but my hair just curled up and frizzed, so it was already in a bun but now it was frizzy around my face (can you imagine Sally from Charlie Brown, you know how she had those curls drawn all over her head, well that was me).

  The secret service guy was like why are you here, bla bla bla, and give me your id cards. We hand them over now mind you, it’s me and Lori, two men in front of us, and a group of three men closer to the gate, well we were all here for the Joining Forces Event. By the way I TOTALLY MET THE CEO of DYNCORP…OMG!!! 

So the secret service was like, well you two guys need to be at this other gate, and you two women, well we don’t have your names and by the way you can only get cleared in 1 hour before the event, so I was like ok no problem don’t sweat it we are early. So Lori and I continue to chat. Well 20 mins goes by and we ask the secret service to look again, he did and he was like well it’s like 10:40 I suggest you call whoever it is who is going to get you in. So we started dialing frantically, I called the FLOTUS’s Press Office and didn’t leave a message, then I called our contact at PopSugar and left a message. So Lori called the FLOTUS Office and left a message and Sarah called us back. BY the way let me just say the FLOTUS office staff ROCKS! Well she was like oh yeah you are on the 

list, but give me a few minutes and I’ll call down there. So by now it’s like 10:50 and I am like WELL oh well what to go get something to eat, because it doesn’t look like we are getting in. So the secret service was like, “oh if you are here for Joining Forces you need to go to the SE Entrance Gate,” and I said well are you sure b/c we aren’t guests we are here as Press, are you sure? I don’t want to walk all the way down there and not get in. So he was like I’m so sure that’s where you will get in at, well I was like oh, ok let’s go. Well we get there and I thought we were making some headway, and got to the secret service, and he was like, “You are not on the list” “please step over here” I am like OMG ok, well we get this lady who is in the FL office and was like, ok let me call my staff. SO all in my head I was thinking of those signs that say “Keep Calm and Carry on” So I was like “Keep Army Wife Strong and Carry on”. 

So while we are calling our contact from PopSugar was like ok well I talked to C and she is going to meet you, so go back to the other gate, and also C is going to call you. So she did and we turned around and walked back…so it took us like 10 min to get back, and by not it is like 11:15…So we get back to the same ole gate and the same ole secret service was like, ok give me your last name, and we did, and he said “you aren’t on the list” and I am like what list? There is

our escort right there, please ask her what the deal is, and he was like “OH you are here as

PRESS, sorry I was looking on the wrong list”..yeah I was like OK buddy you have just made my feet HURT… SO we got our Press Badges and walked through the WEST WING side, right beside the briefing room beside Pebble Beach and to the East Room…OMG, I was so SPEECHLESS, I am like at the President’s house and office…OMG I am totally going to see the President in person, OMG IN PERSON! I have met the FL several times before but not the President or even the VP in person… SO IN hindsight, I am glad it took us that many tries to get in, at least I know secret service was doing it’s job in keeping two military spouses at bay!

HA!~

Ok so here it is what I came to the WH to blog about: President Obama, Vice President Biden, First Lady Michelle Obama, and Dr. Jill Biden announced that since President Obama’s Challenge in August 2011, American Businesses Have Hired or Trained 290,000 Veterans and Military Spouses. SO they announced that an additional 435,000 veterans and military spouses will be hired or trained by 2018. SO you know this is AMAZING. 

I am going to tell you it has taken me 12 years to get a career started. 12 YEARS…I am 35 now (old compared to the new kids from college), I should have been set in my career 6 years ago, I am 6 years past my due date. That is because of my moves with my husband, lack of money for day care and just being in remote locations. Economic Security, that’s a term the President used, and you know that is what this is all about ECONOMIC SECURITY. This just hits the nail on the head, and without the White House, President, Vice President, First Lady and Dr. Biden’s national spotlight on military spouses we couldn’t have come this way. The First Lady emphasized something I already knew, something that I have live for the last 13 years. 

“These veterans and military families are talented, resilient, disciplined, and they are ready to do the job no matter what it takes.  And these characteristics connect every single veteran and military spouse in this room”.   I live and breathe this everyday, and I sell myself SHORT because I don’t have a paid work experience but all the volunteering I have completed should count!!

Here are the Statistics on Joining Forces:

·         August 2011: President Obama challenged American business to hire or train 100,000 veterans or military spouses by 2013.

·         August 2012: The First Lady announced that companies had hired or trained 125,000 veterans and military spouses, and committed to hiring or training 250,000 more by the end of 2014.

·         April 30, 2013: The President, Vice President, First Lady, and Dr. Biden announce that 290,000 veterans or military spouses have been hired or trained, with an additional commitment of 435,000 veterans or military spouses hired or trained by the end of 2018.

The First Lady asked, “If you own a small business, can you commit to hiring a few veterans, maybe even just one?  If you own a larger company, can you hire a few hundred, maybe a few thousand?  Can you retain the veterans already in your workforce so that they are able to grow within your company?  Can you team up with other businesses to hire more veterans all across this country?”

I THINK WE CAN!

Do you want to know more? For a complete list of every company and their commitment to veteran and military spouse employment through Joining Forces please visit: www.joiningforces.gov/commitments.

Henry County hosts the second annual Gold Star Family Day

HERE is some information for you folks living in GA. I think you should stop by and check this out.The Henry County Military Museum will host the second annual Gold Star Family Day Sept. 29. There will be a public Gold Star ceremony at the Veterans Wall beginning at 1 p.m. followed by a private ceremony in the museum at the Wall of Honor for the Gold Star families.

 

The last weekend of September has been chosen as the time for the ceremony because it coincides with national Gold Star Mother’s Day, which is the last Sunday of September. In 1928, American Gold Star Mothers, Inc was established by the mothers of sons and daughters who had given the “last, full measure of devotion” for their country. For nine decades, Gold Star Mothers who know the depth of loss have comforted other grieving mothers and promoted patriotism and the belief that a noble life is one lived in the service of others. The Henry County event expands this recognition to all Gold Star Family members. This year Fort Gordon Survivor Outreach Services, Georgia National Guard SOS, the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars have partnered with the military museum to honor these families and provide them with an opportunity to meet other Survivors.

 

The museum is located at Heritage Park, 101 Lake Dow Road, McDonough, Ga. For more information, call 478-284-2766.

Let’s remember 9-11 and Beyond the Yellow Ribbon

Before I post about the Yellow Ribbon I would like to have a moment of Silence and remember those who lost their lives on that 9-11-01 as well as their families, also to remember all the affects of 9-11 has had on the military. Let us continue to stand behind those who fight to protect us from evil like this again and those who have given their lives for the safety of ours.

Beyond the Yellow Ribbon is for support of military members and their families of all branches of military service, both past and present. Wadena’s support of military families helped inspire the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon program, and now the city is being officially designated as a Yellow Ribbon community. Wadena and several other towns were proclaimed Yellow Ribbon communities and honored in a ceremony at the Detroit Lakes Pavilion Aug. 22, with Gov. Mark Dayton and U.S. Congressman Collin Peterson speaking.

National Guard Sgt. Matthew Nygren, Training NCO working at the Wadena Armory, said Minnesota’s Yellow Ribbon program was started by Adjutant General Larry Shelito and then-Gov. Tim Pawlenty. He added that during a 2004 deployment, Yellow Ribbon founders were impressed by how Wadena and a couple of other communities supported their troops.

The objective of the Yellow Ribbon program, is to establish and sustain a local Yellow Ribbon Network that proactively works together in order to meet the needs of service members and military families.

Karla Richardson of Verndale, veteran and Minnesota Patriot Guard state ride captain, agreed community support in the area is strong. Mayor Wayne Wolden said recognition was given to Wadena for the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon program, which had already been occurring in Wadena.

The proclamation was received by Wolden, Richardson, Evelyn Otto and Diane Leaders. Wadena met the requirements for an action plan template in key areas, including city leadership, public safety, judicial departments, veterans’ organizations, social services, medical providers, faith-based resources, businesses and employers, and a Yellow Ribbon Steering Committee guiding the overall effort. There are over 130 support networks established across Minnesota.

Yellow Ribbon services are not necessarily military-related, and can include mowing a lawn, giving rides and other types of assistance. If you want any more information please contact Yellow Ribbon past or present military members and their family members may contact them about Yellow Ribbon services, and it is confidential.