The White House Blog: Dr. Jill Biden

First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden Celebrate the Inauguration with Military Families

The First and Second Ladies of the United States got an early start on the 2013 Inauguration celebrations at a concert honoring our military families.

The Kids Inaugural: Our Children, Our Future was hosted by Nick Cannon and featured artists including Katy Perry, Usher, the cast of "Glee," Far East Movement and Mindless Behavior. JR Martinez, the Army hero who won "Dancing with the Stars," also joined Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden for the event, which was held at the Washington Convention Center. 

Dr. Biden said the concert was a chance to show military kids how much the country appreciates the sacrifices they make while their parents are serving.

The First Lady told the crowd that while she loves "every single minute" of the inaugural celebrations, the Kids Concert was the true highlight:

 I have to tell you that my very favorite part of this entire weekend is being right here with all of you. Absolutely. Because for me, this is what inauguration is all about. It’s about celebrating who we are as Americans and all the things that make this country so great. And when I think about who we are, when I think about what makes America great, I think about all of you --our men and women in uniform, our military spouses, and our amazing military kids.

Young Reporters Ask All the Right Questions About Helping Military Families

First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden are interviewed by young reporters during a kids magazine roundtable in the First Lady’s Office in the East Wing of the White House, Jan. 18, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Sonya Hebert)

Yesterday, the First Lady and Dr. Biden sat down with four exceptional young reporters from kids’ magazines to talk about their initiative to support military families, Joining Forces. The reporters – from Highlights, National Geographic Kids, Scholastic and TIME for Kids – asked some great questions about the initiative and how kids can help!

Some of the takeaways?

• Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden talked about how they encourage all Americans to look for ways to honor and support military families, and Dr. Biden said when her son Beau was deployed their church put his name in the bulletin to pray for him, people brought meals over, and someone shoveled her daughter-in-law’s driveway during a snowstorm. 
• Asked about advice for a military child who moves a lot, Dr. Biden encouraged them to get involved in sports teams and school activities. And as a teacher herself, she talked about how teachers can get involved to reach out to military kids. For example, Dr. Biden’s granddaughters’ teacher put a picture of her dad’s unit outside of her classroom so the entire class would know Beau was deployed. 
• Mrs. Obama encouraged all the kids’ magazines’ readers to think “what can I do?” for a new kid in school – especially a new military kid. 

The Courage and the Strength

Editor's note: Military Family Month reminds us to take a moment to reflect on the contributions and sacrifices of our military families. As President Obama said in his proclamation declaring November as Military Family Month, “When a young woman signs up to defend our Nation, her parents are enlisted as well. When a father deploys to a combat zone, his children are called to serve on the home front. And when the men and women of our military serve far from home, their families feel the strain of their absence.”

Dr. Jill Biden Sponsors USS Delaware

Dr. Jill Biden speaks at a press conference with Secretary of the Navy Ray Maybus, Senator Tom Carper, and Delaware Lt. Governor Matt Denn, announcing the naming of the SSN 791 as the USS Delaware, in the Briefing Room at the Pentagon, in Arlington, Virginia, Nov. 19, 2012. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann) November 19, 2012.

Earlier this week at the Pentagon, Navy Secretary Ray Mabus announced that the Navy’s next Virginia-class attack submarine will be named the USS Delaware – and that it will be sponsored by Dr. Jill Biden, a longtime Delaware educator and proud military mom.

At the announcement, Secretary Mabus said the Navy names its ships for states and other places in America to serve as a visible representation of America in every port around the world and that there is “always a strong connection between the people of a state and the ship that bears its name.”

“It's a special honor for me to sponsor this submarine, because I'm such a proud military mom,” Dr. Biden said. “Four years ago … I stood in Dover, Delaware, watching as our son, Beau, prepared to deploy to Iraq with the Delaware Army National Guard. I remember it like it was yesterday. And this year, I'm looking forward to standing with our son, Hunter, when he is commissioned as an ensign in the United States Navy.  He follows in the footsteps of two of his grandfathers, who have also served in the Navy.  

Secretary Mabus also recognized Dr. Biden for her work with First Lady Michelle Obama on the Joining Forces initiative, “providing support and expanding opportunities, for veterans and active-duty personnel and their families.”

Dr. Biden said that the Navy tradition of having civilian-sponsored vessels “helps to cement the critical connection between our service members and the civilians back home who love them, miss them, and owe them a debt of gratitude.”

Construction of the USS Delaware will begin next year; its service will begin in 2018.