The Final State of the Union
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Summary:
First Lady Michelle Obama visited the USO Warrior and Family Center and the National Intrepid Center of Excellence, Intrepid Spirit One, at Fort Belvoir, VA in honor of 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance.
In honor of 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance, First Lady Michelle Obama visited the USO Warrior and Family Center and the National Intrepid Center of Excellence, Intrepid Spirit One, at Fort Belvoir, VA.
First Lady Michelle Obama joins children in an art project at the USO Warrior and Family Center in Ft. Belvoir, Va., Sept. 11, 2013. The center supports wounded, ill and injured troops, their families and caregivers as well as local active duty troops. September 11, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)
The National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE) is dedicated to the diagnosis, treatment and research of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), post-traumatic stress disorder, and other service related illnesses and injuries among service members, veterans and their families.
Mrs. Obama began her visit by completing a service project with military children at the USO Warrior Care Center. Together they created crafts for delivery to the NICoE and decorated a USO banner that will be displayed at a barbeque and concert for military families.
“Do you realize you guys are heroes?” explained Mrs. Obama to the military children. “We’re so proud of what you do because your parents, your moms and dads and grandparents and cousins and uncles and aunts, whoever is in your family who is serving – you guys help them help our country.”
She thanked them for their sacrifices in supporting our nation’s service members and left them all some White House cookies to enjoy.
Following her visit with military children, Mrs. Obama toured the NICoE and their rehab facilities. She met with military personnel recovering from PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and other service related injuries.
First Lady Michelle Obama visits with wounded warriors and their families at the Intrepid Spirit One, a satellite center of the Bethesda-based National Intrepid Center of Excellence, in Ft. Belvoir, Va., Sept. 11, 2013. The center cares for service members and veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury, post traumatic stress and related conditions. Wounded warrior Shenae Mitchell demonstrates a device that targets balance issues. September 11, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)
Mrs. Obama concluded her visit to the NICoE by sitting down for a roundtable discussion with the family caregivers of wounded warriors.
