Military Spouse Day, 2009

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Title 3--
The President

Proclamation 8375 of May 8, 2009

Military Spouse Day, 2009

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Military spouses share the sacrifices of service with
our Nation's men and women in uniform. As members of
the Armed Forces serve in the United States and across
the world, military spouses also serve our Nation. When
a servicemember goes to war, we know their spouse also
shares in that sacrifice. I am inspired by their
commitment to family and our Nation, and on Military
Spouse Day, we honor these individuals for their
contributions.

Wives and husbands of servicemembers display an
uncommon courage and strength as they steadfastly
support their spouses during long and arduous
deployments. While they endure separations that are
filled with worry and anxiety, they face unique
stresses. Foremost is the concern about the safety and
well-being of deployed loved ones, but there are many
other challenges. From managing household finances to
comforting children impacted by a military parent's
absence, military spouses take on the burdens of
maintaining families largely on their own. This task is
complicated even more as spouses work to maintain
careers and a sense of community while moving to new
duty stations around the country and the world.

Despite these hardships, military spouses are an
inexhaustible source of strength for our military
families and donate their time generously to local
communities. Military spouses offer the love and
encouragement that help servicemembers endure the
challenges of serving our Nation. Military spouses
support one another as friends and mentors. They serve
in family readiness groups to keep fellow spouses
informed and to provide mutual support. They contribute
as volunteers to improve neighborhoods, military
installations, and communities. These contributions
strengthen both our Nation's character and its
security.

All Americans should express appreciation for military
spouses and let them know they are not alone. To help
those who need it, friends, co-workers, and neighbors
can offer to help with the burden of daily tasks and
thus give military spouses more time for themselves and
their families. To assist spouses who are coping with
the absence of a loved one, individuals can listen and
offer their counsel. Americans can also volunteer
through the many organizations that provide assistance
to military families.

Our Nation maintains a sacred trust with every
individual who serves. My Administration is committed
to showing our Nation's gratitude for them by honoring
our obligations to their families.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of the authority
vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United
States, do hereby proclaim May 8, 2009, as Military
Spouse Day. I call upon the people of the United States
to honor military spouses with appropriate ceremonies
and activities today and in the future.

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