Military Spouse Appreciation Day, 2011

Proclamation 8669 of May 5, 2011

Military Spouse Appreciation Day, 2011

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Military spouses serve as steady and supportive
partners to the heroes in uniform who protect and
defend our great Nation every day. Across America and
around the world, military spouses serve our country in
their own special way, helping families and friends
through the stress of a deployment, caring for our
wounded warriors, and supporting each other when a
loved one has made the ultimate sacrifice.

Our service members and their families seldom ask for
support or recognition. They carry out their duties to
family and country with the quiet courage and strength
that has always exemplified the American spirit. On
Military Spouse Appreciation Day, we have an
opportunity to not only honor the husbands and wives of
our service members, but also thank them by actively
expressing our gratitude in both word and deed.

When a member of our Armed Forces is deployed, an
entire family is called to serve. The readiness of our
troops depends on the readiness of our military
families, as millions of parents, children, and loved
ones sacrifice as well. This means supporting our
military spouses is also a national security
imperative. Earlier this year, my Administration
released the report on military families, Strengthening
our Military Families: Meeting America's Commitment,
which marshaled resources from across our Government to
identify new opportunities to support these patriots.

First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden are
working tirelessly to enlist all sectors of American
life to address the unique challenges of military
families. Their national initiative, ``Joining
Forces,'' mobilizes Americans to give our service
members and their families the opportunities and
support they have earned. Americans can find service
projects, send messages of thanks to military families,
and learn more about this initiative by visiting:
www.JoiningForces.gov.

On Military Spouse Appreciation Day, let us join
together to show our service members we are taking care
of their families back home as they serve our Nation
across the globe. As neighbors, teachers, parents, and
fellow citizens, we can reach out to military husbands
and wives in our communities. We can show our
appreciation in countless ways, from offering to help
with household maintenance and childcare to encouraging
the community involvement and career development of
military spouses.

It is through our actions that we show our commitment
to our service members and their spouses. By embracing
military families, we demonstrate our partnership in
the defense of our freedom and the security of the
United States.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of the authority
vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the
United States, do hereby proclaim May 6, 2011, as
Military Spouse Appreciation Day. I call upon the
people of the United States to honor military spouses
with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
fifth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand
eleven, and of the Independence of the United States of
America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.