Obama Makes Thanksgiving Calls To Troops

President calls 10 armed service members deployed in Operation New Dawn and Operation Enduring Freedom...
In an annual Thanksgiving tradition, President Obama made calls to US military service members this morning, at around 9:00 AM ET from the Oval Office. (Above, in action)

According to the White House, “President Obama called 10 members of our armed services - two from each the Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy - deployed in support of Operation New Dawn and Operation Enduring Freedom. The President thanked each of them for their service and sacrifice and wished them and their families a Happy Thanksgiving.”

The President's weekly address also thanked the troops, and today First Lady Michelle Obama sent out an e-mail asking Americans to join the Joining Forces/USO "Thanks From Everywhere" campaign.

On Wednesday morning, President Obama granted a Thanksgiving pardon to turkey Liberty and his alternate Peace during the annual White House ceremony. In the afternoon, the First Family packed holiday grocery bags at a local food bank.

*Photo by Pete Souza/White House

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First Lady Obama's 2011 Thanksgiving Message: Thank A Hero

Join the "Thanks From Everywhere" campaign...
President Obama's Thanksgiving Address honored America's Armed Forces, and First Lady Michelle Obama is asking Americans to do the same.

Mrs. Obama sent an e-mail and video this morning from the White House, asking Americans to thank members of the military for their service. The messages will be added to the "Thank You From Everywhere" map created by the USO and Joining Forces, Mrs. Obama's campaign to support military families.

"I can't think of any better way to spend Thanksgiving than letting our servicemembers know how grateful we are for everything that they do," Mrs. Obama wrote. "So this year...We've partnered with the USO to create a program called Thanks From Everywhere."

In her video, Mrs. Obama calls Jessica Allen, the wife of a service member injured in combat in Afghanistan.



The text of the First Lady's e-mail:

Good morning,

Every Thanksgiving, Barack sits down to call some of our troops and thank them for their service.

When he tells me about these conversations, it always reminds me of how blessed we are to live in a country where men and women will stand up to protect our freedoms and preserve our way of life. And whenever I've had the chance to meet with these heroes and their families, I've always walked away inspired by their courage and in awe of their strength.

I can't think of any better way to spend Thanksgiving than letting our servicemembers know how grateful we are for everything that they do. So this year, we're making it easy to do just that.

We've partnered with the USO to create a program called Thanks From Everywhere. To get involved, simply visit JoiningForces.gov/Thanks and write a quick note that troops and veterans all over the world will be able to see.

Add your message to Thanks From Everywhere.

Your note will be added to a map with messages from people all over the country, showing our troops and their families just how much we appreciate their service and sacrifice.

If we all do our part, we'll help to build a wave of support to honor our veterans and their families -- and ensure they get the recognition they deserve this holiday season.

At a time when we are sitting down to share the blessings we've received this past year, please take a moment to be a part of this effort to thank America's heroes and their families.

Send a message to Thanks From Everywhere today:

http://www.JoiningForces.gov/Thanks

Happy Thanksgiving,

Michelle Obama
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The Bidens Host Early Thanksgiving Dinner For Wounded Warriors

Vice President: Taking care of veterans is a "sacred obligation"...
Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden welcomed twelve Wounded Warriors to an early Thanksgiving dinner on Monday afternoon at their Washington, DC, residence. The guests--primarily Marines who served in Afghanistan’s Helmand Province--were joined by their parents or spouses at the Naval Observatory. They sat around two large tables in the dining room as they had a traditional feast: Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans, salad, and pumpkin pie. (Above: The Bidens welcome their guests)

Many of the service members were in wheelchairs and missing limbs, having been wounded in 2010 and 2011. They are still recovering, and in treatment and being outfitted with prostheses at Walter Reed National Medical Center in Bethesda. The Vice President welcomed the men and women by telling them that they are an "inspiration" to all Americans, and “part of the finest group of warriors that the world has ever seen.”

He promised that President Obama and all future presidents will be committed to making sure that they will have access to any medical breakthroughs that can improve their lives or help them heal.

“We have only one true sacred obligation and that is to provide for those of you we send into harm’s way, and give you every single solitary thing that you could possibly need to make the transition back home reasonable and workable," Biden said. "That is the only truly, truly sacred obligation we have.”

When he was done, the Vice President gave the microphone to his wife, who spoke of her own experiences as the mother of a deployed soldier. The Bidens' son, Captain Beau Biden, of the Delaware Army National Guard, is a veteran of the Iraq war. With First Lady Michelle Obama, Dr. Biden leads the Joining Forces initiative to support and honor military families. (Above: Dr. Biden speaking with Lance Cpl. Joshua Misiewicz)

“I know what it was like to look down our family table and see my son missing,” Dr. Biden said. “I know what you families have gone through when your loved ones are deployed and I know what it feels like…I know how other families are feeling this Thanksgiving.”

During dinner, the Vice President sat between Lance Cpl. Stephen Ayhens, who lost both his legs when he stepped on a buried bomb, and Lance Cpl. William Carpenter, who was injured by a hand grenade. Dr. Biden sat beside Lance Cpl. Joshua Misiewicz.

Shortly after the meal began, Misiewicz and his mother broke away to talk to reporters in a small living room on the first floor. Misiewicz played hockey while growing up in Chicago, and lost both of his legs above the knee when he stepped on a buried bomb on a foot patrol in Sangin, Afghanistan in July. He has already been outfitted for prostheses at Walter Reed. Just last Thanksgiving, he was working at Camp Pendleton, outside of San Diego, and getting ready to deploy to Afghanistan.

“This is so nice,” Misiewicz said of the dinner. “It shows a lot of people care.”

His mother, Nancy Misiewicz, also chimed in with thanks for the Bidens.

“Nothing compares to a home-cooked meal.”

This is the third year the Bidens have welcomed Wounded Warriors for Thanksgiving.

*Photos by the Office of the Vice President. *Updated

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Michelle Obama At NASCAR Sprint Cup Finale: "Gentlemen, Start Your Engines"...

Homestead Speedway: First Lady, Dr. Biden serve as Grand Marshals, host barbecue for military families, announce new job commitments for vets & military spouses...
First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden will visit Homestead-Miami Speedway in Florida today, serving as Grand Marshals for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup finale, the Ford 400. The race is the biggest prize in American motor sports, and Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden's appearance is part of the Joining Forces campaign to support and honor families.

Before the race, Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden "will recognize service members and military families from the local community at a special BBQ lunch," the White House said. They will also invite a military family to join them as they lead lead the pre-race ceremony and speak what the White House bills as " the most famous words in racing"--“Gentlemen, start your engines.”

Carl Edwards of Missouri is the #1 ranked driver today. Edwards, 32, is the only NASCAR driver who is a member of the President's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition, and has worked with Mrs. Obama on the Let's Move! campaign.

The Miami visit will also "highlight new commitments by American companies to hire and train veterans and military spouses," the White House said. Representatives from companies committing to hiring 10,000 veterans and military spouses by the end of 2013 will volunteer at the barbecue, which will be at the Speedway’s Nationwide Garage.



Walmart, Mrs. Obama's largest private-sector partner for the Let's Move! campaign, has also partnered with the First Lady for Joining Forces. The company created the video, above, featuring racing stars encouraging Americans to support America's uniformed heroes. The video includes Edwards.

The hiring commitments, per the White House:
Representatives from the following companies who have pledged support for the hiring initiative will be at the barbecue: The Beacon Council, G4S Secure Solutions (USA), Ryder System, Inc., Associated Builders & Contractors, Inc., Google, The National Military Family Association, The Boeing Company, Raytheon, Inventis Group Ltd. and the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory.

"This employment commitment includes a first-of-its-kind dedicated local employment effort in South Florida led by the Beacon Council, Miami-Dade County’s economic development leader, to hire veterans and military spouses," the White House said.

*The Beacon Council and their 274 companies will strive to hire 4,000 veterans by the end of 2013;

*G4S Secure Solutions (USA) whose workforce is 21% veterans already will hire 3,000 veterans by 2013;

*Ryder System, Inc. whose workforce is 10% veterans already expects to hire more than 550 veterans in 2011 and 1,000 additional veterans by the end of 2013; and

*BAE Systems, Inc. which already employs more than 3,000 veterans is committed to employing wounded warriors and veterans through their Warrior Integration services.

##

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For APEC 2011, The First Lady's Chef In Hawaii Is Ed Kenney

Mrs. Obama has selected an acclaimed local chef to join her for Summit events. And he's got Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner's stamp of approval, too... 
UPDATE: A post about the First Lady's farm visit IS HERE; a post about the luncheon IS HERE
Hawaiian chef Ed Kenney is so well known that Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner made time to chat with him earlier this week on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Honolulu. And Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie, a longtime fan, tweeted a photo of Kenney and his crew cooking for an APEC reception. This weekend, First Lady Michelle Obama has invited the chef to be her on-island version of Senior Policy Advisor for Healthy Food Initiatives Sam Kass. Kenney will join Mrs. Obama for two of three APEC events she is hosting, which will take place at two very different farms, and spotlight the Let's Move! campaign. (Above: Gov. Abercrombie looks on as Kenney speaks during the APEC reception, held at Washington Place in Honolulu)

President Obama and Mrs. Obama arrive in Honolulu late on Friday night. Neither Kass nor any of the other White House chefs are traveling to Hawaii for Mrs. Obama's events, an East Wing spokesman told Obama Foodorama. APEC events kickoff on Saturday morning; the President's schedule is here.

Like most of the chefs Mrs. Obama has publicly allied herself with, Kenney has a focus on education and policy as well as cooking. His motto is "local first, organic whenever possible, with Aloha always,” and he's the executive chef and owner of two restaurants in Honolulu, Town and Downtown, and he also runs Uptown, a catering operation. Born on island, Kenney trained at the Culinary Institute of the Pacific. He has received much acclaim for his cooking as well as for his commitment to local sourcing and combating food insecurity through his work with MA'O Organic Farms. Both are key elements of Mrs. Obama's Let's Move! campaign.

On Saturday morning, Kenney will join Mrs. Obama as she tours MA'O, a 24.5 acre certified organic farm located in the Waianae area. It's "the largest Native Hawaiian community in the world and one of the most economically challenged communities in the state," according to the East Wing.* Kenney sits on the farm's advisory board, and sources much of the produce he uses for his restaurants from the 35-45 kinds of fruit and vegetables grown on site. The farm also sells to farmers markets and other restaurants on island.

The operation is run by local youth who participate in the Youth Leadership Training internship, which requires three years of work in exchange for a full tuition waiver at a local community college and a monthly stipend. The young agriculturalists will lead the First Lady on her tour. After, she and Kenney will "sit down" with them "for a conversation about youth leadership, engagement and community responsibility as well as access to healthy, affordable food," according to the East Wing.

Pacific Island natives have one of the highest obesity rates of any population, and yes, Hawaii has food deserts. Eradicating food deserts is a pillar of Mrs. Obama's childhood obesity initiative.

On Sunday, Mrs. Obama has invited the twenty spouses of the APEC Leaders to a farm-to-table luncheon that will be held at the Kualoa Ranch, a 4,000-acre working grass-fed cattle operation on protected land, which has breathtaking mountaintop views of the Pacific. Kenney will cook the luncheon, using fresh produce from MA'O. He'll be assisted by the farm's young interns.

Founded in 1850, Kualoa is also a thriving agritourism venue, offering acivities from the mountaintops to the seaside. Its dramatic scenery has been well-used by Hollywood, most notably for "Jurassic Park" and the long-running TV series "Lost." Before the 11:30 AM luncheon, Mrs. Obama will greet each spouse personally in a formal receiving line. During the luncheon they will be entertained with a musical performance by the Honolulu Boys Choir.

The chef meets the Treasury Secretary...
As for Kenney's tete-a-tete with Sec. Geithner? He's given the chef's culinary skills the official stamp of approval ahead of Mrs. Obama's visit. Kenney tweeted about their meeting earlier this week, in the midst of cooking for multiple APEC events. Geithner is a big fan of organic Hawaiian food, apparently. (Above: Geithner speaking at APEC on Thursday)

"Met Sec. Geitner. Seemed truly interested in how business is going. Loved the @maoorganicfarms veggies, @manaii poi, & @KuahiwiRanch beef," Kenney tweeted (sic).

Translated to non-Twitterese, Geithner "loved" the organic vegetables from MA'O, he "loved" grass-fed beef raised on the Big Island, and he "loved" Poi, a traditional Hawaiian dish made from the taro plant, created by a local food artisan. Each is a likely item on Mrs. Obama's luncheon menu, too.

Geithner will not be attending either of Mrs. Obama's events, an East Wing spokesman told Obama Foodorama. He'll be too busy trying to save the global economy. On Saturday evening, the President and Mrs. Obama will host a reception and dinner for APEC Leaders and guests. It will be at the Hale Koa Hotel, which describes itself as a "72-acre tropical oasis fronting the finest stretch of beach in Waikiki." The dinner program includes remarks by Mr. Obama and "cultural performances."

On Sunday, as part of her Joining Forces campaign, Mrs. Obama will meet military families and speak at a hiring fair sponsored by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for service men and women, veterans and military families on Hickam Air Force Base.

The President was born in Honolulu--something Gov. Abercrombie himself vowed to prove earlier this year, before Mr. Obama's long-form birth certificate was released. The President also attended school in Honolulu for part of his boyhood. The First Family spends Christmas vacation in the town of Kailua each year, which is located across the island of Oahu from Honolulu.

Mrs. Obama has hosted two previous farm-to-table events for spouses of world leaders. In 2010, she welcomed the spouses of UN General Assembly members to New York's Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture Center, where they took a farm tour and had lunch at Blue Hill resturant, cooked by chef Dan Barber and the White House chefs. During the 2009 Pittsburgh G20 Summit, Mrs. Obama hosted a farm-to-table dinner for spouses at Teresa Heinz Kerry's Rosemont Farm. Both events spotlighted local, organic and sustainably grown ingredients.

*Honolulu Civil Beat disputes the White House assertion that Waianae is "the largest Native Hawaiian community in the world," and says this is "half true."

*Top photo by Ed Morita/Nonstop Honolulu; second by Eddie Gehman Kohan/Obama Foodorama; third by AP

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White House Honors Tyson Foods As "Champion Of Change"

Poultry company has 3,000 veterans in its workforce, and a commitment to hiring more...
The White House on Wednesday honored Tyson Foods, one of the largest poultry companies in the US, as a “Champion of Change” for their commitment to helping military veterans and their families find jobs, which is the the current focus of First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden's Joining Forces campaign. Tyson's efforts, led by Russell Tooley, Senior Vice President of corporate and international human resources, has been “extraordinary," according to the White House. (Tooley, above, at the White House)

The Springdale, Arkansas-based Tyson employs about 3,000 veterans among its 115,000-member workforce and has committed to adding more over the next year. On Wednesday, Tooley and James David, pricing manager with the company’s consumer products division, attended a roundtable discussion with White House staff on hiring veterans, as part of their "Champions of Change" visit to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. David was an Air Force Captain and now, in addition to his duties at Tyson, serves as an Executive Officer with the 22nd Air Force Detachment 1 Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Little Rock Air Force Base. Tooley is a 24-year veteran of Tyson.

“Your presence here represents the best capacity of our country to step up and give back,” said retired Capt. Brad Cooper, Executive Director of Joining Forces.

Tyson's commitment to hire more members of the military is part of an announcement by the The American Logistics Association that its corporate members, including Tyson, have pledged to hire 25,000 military veterans. Tyson regularly makes a concerted effort to hire junior military officers who have received training from an outside agency on how to transition from the military to the business world, according to the White House. The company has close ties to the military: It is one of the leading suppliers of food to the Defense Commissary Agency.

Tyson also provides differential pay for all employees called to active military duty, making up the difference between military compensation and pay they normally receive from Tyson. Since September 11, 2001, Tyson has provided $2 million in differential pay to almost 400 employees, according to the company.

Tyson Foods was one of six organizations the White House recognized Wednesday as “Champions of Change” for their commitment to helping military veterans and their families find jobs. The "Champions" series honors citizens who are making a major difference in their communities.

*White House photo

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Dr. Jill Biden's Joining Forces Cooking Event

The Second Lady will visit with military families at "Operation Home Cooking"... 
Dr. Jill Biden, who leads the Joining Forces campaign with First Lady Michelle Obama, will deliver remarks and visit with military families at the 2011 “Operation Home Cooking” event during the Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show on Saturday in Washington, DC. (Above: Dr. Biden with military spouses at Ft. Stewart)

"Now in its second year, Operation Home Cooking has offered 2,500 military spouses the opportunity to attend the Cooking & Entertaining Show and participate in celebrity chef demonstrations in recognition of their commitment and sacrifices for our nation," said the White House.

Biden is a blue star mother; she and Vice President Joe Biden are parents to Beau Biden, a Captain in the Delaware Army National Guard, and a veteran of the Iraq war. The cooking show is at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

*In the photo at top, Dr. Biden talks with Army spouses during a visit to Fort Stewart, Ga., on Feb. 14, 2011. U.S. Army photo by D. Myles Cullen.

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First Lady's Schedule For APEC Summit In Hawaii; Visits Organic Farm, Hosts Farm-to-Table Luncheon At Cattle Ranch

During co-hosting duties for the Asia-Pacific Economic Leaders Meeting, Mrs. Obama will bring her signature campaigns to the international stage...
UPDATE: More details about Mrs. Obama's event ARE HERE. The President and Mrs. Obama will host an APEC dinner and reception on Nov. 12. The President's APEC schedule is here.
Later this month, First Lady Michelle Obama will join President Obama in hosting this year’s Asia-Pacific Economic Leaders Meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii, the East Wing announced today.

During her three-day stay on the island of Oahu, beginning on Nov. 12, Mrs. Obama will bring both her Let's Move! and Joining Forces campaigns to the international community, hosting APEC Leaders' spouses for two events designed to "introduce" her signature initiatives, according to the East Wing. Mrs. Obama will also host a farm-to-table luncheon for the spouses at the historic Kualoa Ranch, a massive grass-fed cattle operation that doubles as an agritourism venue. The luncheon has savvy political and economic overtones.

Mrs. Obama's first Let's Move! event on Nov. 12 spotlights farm-to-table sourcing and youth agricultural education, and is at the 24.5-acre certified organic MA’O Organic Farms. The next day, the First Lady's luncheon will take place at the lush, mountaintop Kualoa Ranch, which overlooks the sea. The 4,000-acre working cattle ranch was established in 1850, and is on protected land. Produce from MA’O Organic Farms will be used for the luncheon, and Mrs. Obama has invited chef Ed Kenney of Town restaurant in Honolulu to join her for both events, and mastermind the menu. Kenny is an award-winning chef who is also cooking for other APEC events, including for the Senior Officials Reception.

In September of 2010, Mrs. Obama hosted a farm-to-table luncheon for the spouses of UN Leaders attending the 65th General Assembly (steak was not on the menu). The First Family spends the Christmas holiday on Oahu each year in the town of Kailua; President Obama was born in Honolulu, and attended school there as a boy.

Details of Mrs. Obama's Hawaii Joining Forces event are below.

The First Lady's schedule, per the East Wing:

Saturday, November 12, 2011, 11:30 AM:
First Lady Michelle Obama will kick off her trip with a visit to MA’O Organic Farms located in the Waianae area, the largest Native Hawaiian community in the world and one of the most economically challenged communities in the state. MA’O is a 24.5 acre certified organic farm that grows 35-45 different varieties of produce which they sell to a multitude of restaurants, grocery stores and farmers markets. The farm is primarily run by area youth who participate in the Youth Leadership Training (YLT) internship which requires interns to work for three years and in exchange receive a full tuition waiver at a local community college plus a monthly stipend.

Students will guide the First Lady on a tour of the farm and then sit down with her for a conversation about youth leadership, engagement and community responsibility as well as access to healthy, affordable food. Joining Mrs. Obama will also be Ed Kenney, chef of Town restaurant, who has been a longtime supporter of MA’O Farms, has purchased the majority of his restaurant’s produce from the farm and regularly visited with students. At the First Lady’s request, Chef Kenney will prepare the luncheon meal for APEC Leaders’ spouses on Sunday using local ingredients from MA’O.

Sunday, November 13, 2011, 11:30 AM:
First Lady Michelle Obama will host a special event for the APEC Leaders’ spouses at the historic Kualoa Ranch, a largely preserved and protected 4,000-acre working cattle ranch established in 1850 overlooking the Palikū mountains and the Kualoa beach front. The First Lady will greet each spouse as they arrive to the ranch and invite them to a luncheon featuring local foods prepared by Hawaiian Chef Ed Kenney. Kenney will create a meal from the fresh produce harvested from MA’O farms and with the help of the farm’s young interns. Spouses will also be treated to a musical performance by the Honolulu Boys Choir.

Monday, November 14, 2011, time TBA:
First Lady Michelle Obama will meet military families and speak at a hiring fair sponsored by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for service men and women, veterans and military families on Hickam Air Force Base. Since the launch of Joining Forces the Chamber committed to hosting 100 hiring fairs and expanding that number in the next year. To date, 30 Chamber hiring fairs have connected 29,000 veterans with more than 1,000 different employers.
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*Photo by Eddie Gehman Kohan/ObamaFoodorama.com

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Michelle Obama Tweets About White House Halloween Party for Military Families

President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama hosted a closed-to-press Halloween Party inside the White House on Saturday night for kids from military families. Mrs. Obama sent out a tweet on the Joining Forces account, and posted a photo of herself with a group of her young guests. It was the First Lady's second "official" tweet.

"Happy halloween! Spending it w/ military kids & families - so proud of them & honored to say thanks. -mo," Mrs. Obama wrote (sic).

The special party, the third time the President and Mrs. Obama have welcomed military families for Halloween, came after they'd doled out treat bags to thousands of kids as snow fell over the North Portico. The White House treat bags this year contained extra sugary candy at President Obama's request. Festive decorations included First Dog Bo dressed as Superman as well as cobwebs, pumpkins, and bats.

The White House this year released two recipes for Halloween, and Mrs. Obama also offered some treat advice for parents: Confiscate the candy.

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The Obamas Have Lunch With Veterans At Anna's Pizzeria in Hampton, Virginia

Eat n' Greets: President's first bus tour included lunch with veterans, too...
President Obama and First Lady Obama stopped for lunch today at Anna's Pizza and Italian Kitchen, a family-owned eatery located in a strip mall in Hampton, Virginia. The drop-by came after a morning visit to Joint Base Langley-Eustis. It was the President's fourth eat n' greet during his three-day American Jobs Act bus tour, but his first sit-down lunch. (Above, the President and Mrs. Obama greet the restaurant's owners)

According to the White House, the First Couple were joined by four veterans at the family-owned eatery, and discussed the employment challenges faced by vets when they return to the home front. Guests included Amanda Leigh, US Army Veteran, Denmark, WI; Brian Sullivan, US Army Veteran, Foxborough, MA; Jill Ann Lynch, US Navy Veteran, Butternut, WI; and Patrick L. Burrows, US Navy Veteran, Union City, PA.

The President's other eat n' greets....
The luncheon comes on the last day of President Obama's bus tour. During his maiden voyage on Ground Force One, for a bus tour through the midwest in August, the President also lunched with veterans.

Today, traveling home to the White House, the First Couple hopped off Ground Force One and visited a farmers market in Hampton, Virginia, after lunch. While rolling aboard his big armored bus, this week the President also stopped at a North Carolina general store to buy a bucketload of candy; had smoked pork barbecue from an eat n' greet stop at Countryside Barbecue in Marion, NC; and stopped by Reid's House Restaurant in Reidsville, N.C., for more take out.

Update: A guest goes on the record: Click here to read Sullivan's recap of the Presidential lunch.

*Photo by Pete Souza/White House

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President Obama, First Lady Shop At Virginia Farmers Market

"Michelle does a good job promoting produce,” President says during pumpkin pit stop on Ground Force One...
First Lady Michelle Obama joined President Obama for one of his favorite pastimes this morning: Hopping off Ground Force One to make a foodie pit stop. Of course the stop was healthier than a couple of the eat n' greets the President has had on his own, like his Monday stop at a North Carolina general store to buy a bucketload of candy. Today's visit was to the kind of place Mrs. Obama has devoted herself to making popular: A farmers market. Located in Hampton, Virginia, Wood’s Orchard Farm Market has been open for sixty years, and it was chock full of seasonal, locally grown delights, including huge pumpkins and produce, and laden with homemade jams and breads. (Above: The President and Mrs. Obama with a wagonload of pumpkins)

"You know Michelle does a good job promoting produce,” President Obama told owner Billy Wood. “She tries to get everyone to eat their vegetables."

Clad in wide-legged pants and a striped shirt, Mrs. Obama perused the pumpkins as the President chatted with Wood and other locals. The First Couple bought a couple of apples, a bag of peanuts, a jar of what seemed to be honey, and ten pumpkins to bring home to the White House, including one that weighed about 70 pounds. They paid cash. (Above: The President hauls a wagon of pumpkins out of the store, and carries his bag of goodies)

Yesterday, the President asked a North Carolina crowd not to tell his wife what he's been eating while on his three-day bus tour. She knows what he ate today: The First Couple stopped for a lunch at a Hampton pizzeria, where they were joined by four veterans. The two stops came after a morning visit to Joint Base Langley-Eustis, where both spoke at an event at which Mrs. Obama announced that the American Logistics Association (ALA) and their 270 affiliate companies have signed on to her Joining Forces campaign, and committed to hiring 25,000 veterans and military spouses by the end of 2013.

Pool report & video from the farmers market:
At about 11:30 a.m. POTUS and FLOTUS, riding the imposing Ground Force One, stopped at a roadside farmer’s market in Hampton called “Wood’s Orchard Farm Market,” which was chock full of pumpkins. Owners Billy and Betty Wood said they have been in business for 60 years, married for 51, and working at this location on East Mercury Blvd. since the 1940s. A billboard read: “Pumpkin Patch Open Hayrides” and had hours of the rides on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Another sign read: “No credit cards under $10.” (Above: The President loads pumpkins on to Ground Force One)



POTUS and FLOTUS spent about 20 minutes inspecting pumpkins, as well as some other goods, such as fruit, jams and honey. Billy Wood informed the president that there are 8 varieties of sweet potatoes. A handmade sign on a pillar read: “Pie pumpkins $3.00 each.”

“You know Michelle does a good job promoting produce,” Obama replied. “She tries to get everyone to eat their vegetables.”

Obama talked a lot to the shopkeepers, but Michelle Obama was busy inspecting pumpkins. She seemed very interested in oversized white-colored ones, which Betty Wood later explained were called “full moon pumpkins.” Michelle Obama picked one up by wrapping both arms around it to load it into a metal rolling cart with a long metal handle. Betty Wood later estimated the pumpkin could weigh 70 pounds.

POTUS quipped: “Don’t hurt yourself now.” .. He yelled out to an aide: “We are we going to put it? In the back of the bus?”

Michelle Obama loaded more into the cart. “How many are you going to buy?” POTUS asked. “You want anything else?”

“No, we’ll have enough trouble getting these back,” she said.

POTUS approached the cash register. They had about 10 pumpkins, including two of the full moons. He also had two red apples, a bag of peanuts and a jar of yellow-colored syrup that appeared to possibly be honey. He handed Billy Wood some $20s. (We think the cost came to about $60, but it is not clear.)
Obama asked if they would take a picture together and also promised to send photos of the pumpkins back to the store.

“We’re going to send pictures of the pumpkins outside the White House,” he said, shortly before they carried the pumpkins back onto Ground Force One and the caravan rolled onward.

##

*Pool was Politico's Glenn Thrush. *AP photos, Telegraph UK video

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First Lady Announces Commitment From Major Food Companies To Hire Vets, Military Spouses

Joining Forces: Tysons Foods, Coca Cola, Unilever and ConAgra among 270 companies that will hire 25,000 by 2013...
President Obama and First Lady Obama appeared this morning at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, an Air Force base in Virginia, to announce a major new commitment from private corporations to hire 25,000 veterans and military spouses by 2013. As part of the Joining Forces initiative, the commitments come from companies that include Tysons Foods, Coca Cola, Unilever and ConAgra. (Above: The President looks on as Mrs. Obama speaks to the Air Force crowd)

The commitment "is the largest coordinated effort by the private sector we’ve seen in years, maybe ever," Mrs. Obama told the cheering crowd.



The President and Mrs. Obama's appearance came on the third day of Mr. Obama's American Jobs Act bus tour. After the visit to the base, the President and Mrs. Obama had lunch with four veterans, and they also visited a farmers market.

The White House news release about the commitment:

First Lady Michelle Obama Announces Major Private Sector
Commitment to Hire 25,000 Veterans and Military Spouses
in Support of Joining Forces

270 companies committing to employ veterans and military spouses

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, while visiting Joint Base Langley-Eustis with President Obama on Day Three of the American Jobs Act bus tour, First Lady Michelle Obama announced that the American Logistics Association (ALA) and their 270 affiliate companies have committed to hiring 25,000 veterans and military spouses by the end of 2013. This commitment is part of the First Lady’s and Dr. Jill Biden’s Joining Forces initiative to support veterans and military families. The ALA’s commitment will fulfill a quarter of the President’s challenge to the private sector to hire or train 100,000 veterans and military spouses by the end of 2013. The announcement comes as the President and First Lady visit Joint Base Langley-Eustis to discuss the critical importance of hiring America’s veterans.

“We ask our men and women in uniform to leave their careers, leave their families, and risk their lives to fight for our country,” said President Obama. “The last thing they should have to do is fight for a job when they come home. That’s why I’ve made increasing job opportunities for veterans a critical priority for my Administration and why the American Jobs Act I proposed includes tax credits to make it easier for businesses to hire America’s veterans.”

“The ALA’s commitment today is the largest coordinated effort by the private sector we’ve seen in years, maybe ever. And they’re making these hires not just because it’s the right thing to do or the patriotic thing to do. They’re doing it because it’s good for their bottom line. They know that these veterans and military spouses represent the best, and they want them on their team,” said First Lady Michelle Obama. “And that’s what Joining Forces is about, tapping into all that goodwill that’s out there, all across America, in every sector of society, and channeling it into meaningful action that’s a win-win for everyone.”

Led by the largest consumer packaged goods companies in the United States, the ALA includes major manufacturers such as Tysons Foods, Coca Cola, Unilever and ConAgra along with a multitude of specialty suppliers to the on-base military consumer channel. With annual sales of nearly $20 billion, these companies provide goods and services to a military channel comprised of military commissaries (grocery stores), exchanges (convenience stores, department stores, food concessions, gas stations, communications and electronics, ship’s stores, tactical retail outlets), Morale, Welfare, and Recreation sales and services (restaurants, child care, fitness centers, libraries, auto service) and Veteran’s Canteen Service (retail outlets in VA Hospitals and offices), as well as retail outlets on Coast Guard bases. To achieve its goal, the Association will be teaming up with several on-going employment programs including the Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP) and the Chamber of Commerce’s Hiring Our Heroes program.

First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden created Joining Forces to bring Americans together to recognize, honor and take action to support veterans and military families as they serve our country and throughout their lives. The initiative aims to educate, challenge, and spark action from all sectors of society to ensure veterans and military families have the support they have earned. The initiative focuses on key priority areas – employment, education, and wellness while raising awareness about the service, sacrifice, and needs of America’s veterans and military families.

The ALA’s commitment to hire 25,000 veterans and military spouses by the end of 2013 will further promote the goal of Joining Forces to create greater connections between the American public and those inspirational men and women who have served and sacrificed so greatly for this country.

For more information about Joining Forces, visit www.joiningforces.gov.

##
*Photo courtesy of the Air Force

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First Lady's Luncheon For Mrs. Deborah Mullen

A Joining Forces farewell affair for a passionate advocate for military families...
First Lady Obama will today honor Mrs. Deborah Mullen, wife of Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, with a farewell luncheon. Mrs. Mullen, a tireless advocate for military families, has been a crucial partner for Mrs. Obama's Joining Forces campaign, and the 1:00 PM affair, co-hosted by Dr. Jill Biden, comes as the Admiral retires this week. (At top: Mrs. Mullen and the Admiral at Bagram Air Field in Afghanistan)

"Deborah, you are a wonderful example of our amazing military spouses around the globe," Dr. Biden told Mrs. Mullen during a Joining Forces event in June. The Admiral and Mrs. Mullen have been married for forty years, and have two adult sons, both Naval officers.

"Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden have worked with Mrs. Mullen for the past two years, specifically on Joining Forces, the initiative they launched to support military families and veterans," the East Wing noted in its announcement of the luncheon.

Guests will include spouses of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and National Guard Bureau leadership, according to the East Wing. The luncheon is closed to press.

In the afternoon, Mrs. Obama will speak at an East Room event about the importance of supporting and retaining women and girls in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) careers. The National Science Foundation will make an announcement about retaining women in STEM fields.

President Obama is on the road today, participating in a LinkedIn town hall in Mountain View, CA, and three fundraisers in Southern California. Pop superstar Lady Gaga attended the President's fundraising dinner in Silicon Valley on Sunday night.

*In the photo at top, the Admiral and Mrs. Mullen are at the USO Holiday Tour at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan on Dec.15, 2010. DoD photo by Mass Communciation Specialist 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley

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First Lady's Op Ed: "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" & The Joining Forces Campaign

Ahead of tonight's star turn on reality TV show, Mrs. Obama publishes missive in Fayetteville, NC newspaper...
Tonight, First Lady Michelle Obama stars in the two-hour season premiere of ABC reality TV series Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. She joined host Ty Pennington and the crew in July as they rebuilt the Steps n Stages Jubilee House, a shelter for homeless women veterans run by Barbara Marshall, a 15-year Navy veteran. Today, Mrs. Obama published the following Op-ed in the Fayetteville Observer, the paper for the North Carolina town where Marshall's home is located. She discusses the show, the importance of her Joining Forces campaign, and why it's crucial for Americans to support military families. (Mrs. Obama with Pennington and Marshall, in red, as the new home is revealed)

The White House also created a trailer for the First Lady's appearance on the show. Mrs. Obama gives a tour of the White House during the episode.

Military Families Deserve the Spotlight
by Michelle Obama

A few years ago, as I began to travel around the country and talk to all sorts of people, one set of stories always tugged at my heart. They took my breath away. They inspired me. And they motivated me to learn more. They were stories of strength, courage, and patriotism that define our nation’s military families. And I know that Fayetteville is filled with them.

They’re your neighbors who raise children and manage households by themselves while their loved ones are deployed. They’re military kids who have lived most of their young lives with our nation at war and Mom or Dad overseas. They’re our wounded warriors or survivors of our fallen who continue to serve their community every day. And they’re women like Barbara Marshall.

Like so many of our veterans, Barbara’s service to this country didn’t stop when her 15-year Navy career ended. Through Steps N Stages Jubilee House, she is working to combat homelessness among female veterans in the Fayetteville area. She’s doing it in an unconventional way: by welcoming these struggling women and their families into her own home.

The Marshalls – Barbara; her son, Bert; and her daughter, Maya – are perfect examples of how much our military families give to our country each and every day. And this summer, a whole busload of people stepped up to give the Marshalls something back.

For one week in the sweltering heat, local volunteers and the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition cast and crew worked around the clock to transform Barbara’s home into a beautiful, state-of-the-art dream house and resource center. I was thrilled to help out with some of the finishing touches, and I’ll never forget the look on Barbara’s face when the bus pulled away to reveal her new home.

But what I remember most was the Fayetteville community’s warm embrace of this family and our homeless veterans. I saw neighbors grabbing shovels and picking up scraps around the worksite. I saw business owners and local organizations pitching in. Even folks around the country got involved, donating logs online to help build the beautiful cabin.

Now, I know that not every community can build a home in a week, and not every veteran will end up in Disneyland or on national T.V. But I also know that the compassion I felt in Fayetteville is alive and well in every community across this country.

That’s what compelled Dr. Jill Biden and me to launch our Joining Forces initiative this spring. This is a national initiative to address the unique needs of, and expand opportunities for, our remarkable military families.

It’s about businesses, nonprofit organizations, schools, churches, and ordinary citizens doing what they can for these incredible men, women and children. It’s about Americans uniting in service around these families. And it’s about everyone – no matter where they come from or their station in life – stepping up to give something meaningful back.

With one of our nation’s biggest media companies, local organizations, and folks from all over Fayetteville pitching in, this summer’s wild week was a perfect example of what we can accomplish when we work together for these families.

So Fayetteville, I hope you sit back and enjoy the spotlight tonight on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. You deserve it. And I hope that after the show, you’ll visit us at JoiningForces.gov to find out how you can keep showing your appreciation for our military families. Together, we can serve our military families as well as they have served us.

##

During her visit to Jubilee House, Mrs. Obama presented the residents with seeds from her Kitchen Garden. The home renovation included adding a greenhouse to the property.

"I'd like to say I put up the drywall, but my handy skills are limited," Mrs. Obama told People magazine. "But I did help screw in some plaques as a part of a fabulous design project that paid tribute to all of the female veterans who have passed through Barbara's home. I also lent a hand with the garden greenhouse by arranging the potted plants."

Extreme Makeover is Mrs. Obama's second outing on reality TV: She appeared on Iron Chef America in 2010, in a special White House episode for her other signature initiative, the Let's Move! campaign. White House Executive Chefs Cris Comerford joined three celebrity chefs on the episode, who were filmed with Mrs. Obama at the White House before harvesting vegetables from her Kitchen Garden.

*Photo by Samantha Appleton/White House

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New Video: White House Trailer For First Lady's Star Turn On "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition"

Mrs. Obama graces season premiere on Sunday; Jubilee House veterans gifted with seeds from her Kitchen Garden...
UPDATE, Sept. 25: First Lady publishes Op Ed about show
The White House released a video on Friday afternoon previewing First Lady Michelle Obama's appearance on the two-hour season premiere of ABC TV show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, which airs Sunday. The episode tracks the makeover of the Steps n Stages Jubilee House, a shelter for homeless women veterans in Fayetteville, North Carolina run by Navy veteran Barbara Marshall, who was a chaplain. The episode also includes Mrs. Obama giving host Ty Pennington a tour of the White House. (Above: Mrs. Obama, in red, in a WH photo of the filming)

The First Lady joined the July filming as part of her Joining Forces campaign; she "was in town to lend a hand with the finishing touches, and welcome the Marshalls into their dream home," the White House said. The revamp of the Marshall residence included building a greenhouse. Some of the residents are avid gardeners, and Mrs. Obama presented them with seeds from her Kitchen Garden. (Above: With Pennington in a publicity still from ABC)

"I'd like to say I put up the drywall, but my handy skills are limited," Mrs. Obama told People magazine. "But I did help screw in some plaques as a part of a fabulous design project that paid tribute to all of the female veterans who have passed through Barbara's home. I also lent a hand with the garden greenhouse by arranging the potted plants."

"Teaming up with our First Lady--we've had some big names on our show, but it just doesn't get any bigger than this," Pennington says in the White House video.



The show airs at 7:00 PM on ABC. It is Mrs. Obama's second outing on reality TV: She also appeared on Iron Chef America in 2010, in a special White House episode for her other signature initiative, the Let's Move! campaign. White House Executive Chefs Cris Comerford joined three celebrity chefs on the episode, who were filmed with Mrs. Obama at the White House before harvesting vegetables from her Kitchen Garden.

ABC, which is owned by Disney, sent Marshall and her family to Walt Disney World, where they were the guests of honor at a military-family themed parade. "During the parade, Mrs. Obama surprised the Marshalls and guests at the park with a video greeting from The White House, thanking Barbara for her support of homeless female veterans," Disney said in a press release.

Marshall served in the Navy from 1991-2001, and she was in the Reserves for five years prior. Her highest rank obtained was LCDR/04 Lieutenant Commander. She received the Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal and National Defense Service Medal. Her 1st TOUR was from 1986-1991, and the 2nd tour was
NSWC Dahlgren King George, VA 1991-2001.

*Top photo by Samantha Appleton/White House, taken on July 27, 2011; second from ABC; White House video

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"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Ends: First Lady Will Welcome Gay Military Families To Joining Forces

Last April at the White House, openly gay and lesbian members of the military weren't included in launch festivities...
UPDATE: President's statement on the repeal of DADT
Families that have openly gay or lesbian military service members will now be welcome at events for First Lady Obama and Dr. Jill Biden's Joining Forces campaign, says Mrs. Obama's Communications Director, Kristina Schake. That's because "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT), repealed nine months ago by Congress, officially expires today. The First and Second Ladies' campaign supports and celebrates military families as "the force behind the force." (Above: Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden in a promo photo for the campaign)

“After the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell takes effect, Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden look forward to including openly gay and lesbian service members in events to recognize their service to the nation, as well as the service of their families,” Schake said in a statement to The Advocate.

Last April, DADT was still the law of the land, so openly gay and lesbian service members and their advocacy groups were not allowed to attend the big White House launch event for the Joining Forces campaign, held in the East Room, and attended by President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, as well as top military brass. Created almost eighteen years ago during the Clinton presidency, DADT prevented members of the military from publicly revealing their sexual orientation.

Today, for the first time in military history, service men and women can reveal their sexual orientation without fear of reprisal. The "no openly gay" White House event policy was in effect exclusively for military-related events: Since taking office, President Obama has hosted three different receptions to celebrate LGBT Pride Month. There are also many openly gay and lesbian staff who work at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Perhaps the most high profile is Jeremy Bernard, the first openly gay Social Secretary in White House history. Bernard is also the first male Social Secretary.

"As a country, we don’t always see their families, our heroes on the home front,” Mrs. Obama said when launching Joining Forces. Because of DADT, the First Lady's observation was doubly true for the families of gay and lesbian members of the armed forces. The invisibility ends today.

Find out more about the campaign at JoiningForces.gov.

*Photo by Soldiers Angels

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Michelle Obama's "US News" Essay: Veterans, Military Spouses Need Jobs

First Lady calls on Americans to support members of armed forces... President Obama heads for rural America on Monday, for a three-day bus tour and five different town halls to discuss jobs and the economy (the schedule is here). "Jobs And Economic Security For Rural America," a new Report issued by the White House in advance of the trip, has a focus on veterans and military families as one of its action points for boosting rural economies. 44% of the men and women in the armed forces come from rural areas, the Report says, and there are approximately 6.1 million veterans living in rural communities. But the unemployment rate as of July 2011 among post-9/11 veterans is 12.4%, higher than the national rate. First Lady Michelle Obama this week published an essay on the same topic, calling for corporations and communities to support the efforts of military veterans and their spouses in finding employment.

Michelle Obama: Time To Find Jobs For Military Veterans At Home

By Michelle Obama

Over the past few years, I've had the privilege of meeting so many of our nation's men and women in uniform and their families. I've laughed with them at baby showers and graduations. I've sat with them at hospital bedsides. I've listened to their stories, learned from their experiences, and witnessed the strength of the families of our fallen heroes.

And each time I speak with a veteran or military spouse, I am awed by their strength and resilience. And I am struck by just how much they're contributing to our communities every single day.

They're leading the scout troop, taking night classes, running the carpool, and sending off care packages to deployed units overseas—all while shouldering the emotional costs of an empty seat at the dinner table for months at a time. They have packed up their families and moved to another part of the country—or the world—again and again, so they know how to quickly adapt to new environments and people. And these experiences—the ones they deal with every day—give them the perfect background to manage large-scale projects, find creative solutions to problems, and fight through anything that comes their way.

Yet, even with all of these skills and experiences, veterans and military spouses aren't always at the top of the list for employers when it comes time to fill an open position. Veterans who have served since 9/11 have a higher unemployment rate than the rest of the country. And too often, a military spouse's résumé—checkered with different residences and job experiences—is seen as a red flag, rather than a reflection of the variety of skills and experiences that military spouses have to offer.

I believe that we can do better. That's why Dr. Jill Biden and I started an initiative called Joining Forces to recognize, honor, and support our veterans and military families. We're joining forces with businesses, nonprofit organizations, government, communities, and individuals. We're focusing on areas like education and wellness—and we're working to help our troops and their spouses find and keep good jobs.

Already, we've seen employers from across the country step up. The Chamber of Commerce has been holding job fairs, including one that connected veterans to some of the nation's biggest finance firms through the Veterans on Wall Street program. The Department of Defense has worked with the Chamber and 70 private employers to expand career opportunities through the Military Spouse Employment Partnership.

The Society for Human Resource Management has committed to educating its quarter-million HR professionals on the skills offered by military spouses. And companies like Sears and Walmart have committed to major hiring and training initiatives for veterans and military spouses. As I've seen again and again, when these companies start hiring veterans and military spouses, they love the results.
"This is not just an act of goodwill, this is an act of good business," Sears CEO Lou D'Ambrosio said. "The men and women of our military, their spouses, and their families are some of the most gifted, talented employees that we have in the company."

So this is about more than our sense of duty—it's about the bottom line, too. Contributing to our economy is just another way that our troops and their families continue to strengthen this country. Whether they're National Guardsmen and Reservists reintegrating into their communities after a deployment, veterans whose active duty service has ended, or spouses whose loved ones still serve, our men and women in uniform and their families still have so much to offer our country. They'll just be wearing business attire this time.

So after everything they've done to keep our country safe and secure, let's make sure that they know that this country is looking out for them, too. We all can help. Employers with job openings to fill can commit to hiring goals for military spouses and veterans and ensure that they have every opportunity to compete for positions. Those of us with career experience can engage military family members in our career fields or mentor veterans as they transition to a civilian career. And in our neighborhoods, we can make sure that our community organizations, schools, and faith groups are attuned to the skills and experience of our troops and their families.

Each of us can play a role. So please join us at JoiningForces.gov, and together, we can serve our veterans and military families as well as they've served us.
##

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Michelle Obama Cover Feature, AARP Magazine

Excerpts: First Lady talks about the Osama bin Laden raid, Joining Forces, her future in politics, The Dougie...
Following this month's historic cover feature in Better Homes and Gardens, First Lady Michelle Obama has another magazine cover feature, this one for a crucial voting segment for Election 2012: She's featured in the September/October issue of AARP The Magazine, available now, in print and online.

Mrs. Obama and Dr. Jill Biden give a wide-ranging co-interview, titled "Moms on a Mission," which focuses primarily on their Joining Forces campaign to support military families. Plenty of other subjects are touched on too, including the possibility of their future careers as politicians, life in the White House, one historic dining excursion, and doing "The Dougie." (Above: This photo of Dr. Biden and the First Lady accompanies the interview)

First Lady was out to dinner during the President's bin Laden operation...
The exclusive interview was conducted at the White House just five days after US Navy SEALS raided terrorist Osama Bin Laden's compound in Pakistan. Mrs. Obama reveals that she was "out to dinner with girlfriends" on May 1, the evening that President Obama announced to the world, in a late-night address from the East Room. that bin Laden had been killed. She knew little of the operation being conducted by SEAL Team Six, Mrs. Obama said:

I knew something was happening, but when it gets down to that level of secrecy, there's just a small number of people who know anything.

I was actually out to dinner with girlfriends, and I didn't know until I walked in the door. It was later in the evening, and Barack had his suit on, because he was going to the press conference.

And I said, "What's going on?" I was, like, "Wow." Then I wanted to know the details: "How did it happen? Then what? And then what happened?" I was probably like every media person.

The President sat down and explained things to her, Mrs. Obama says. And she in turn explained things to daughter Malia, then 12, because noisy crowds were beginning to gather outside the White House.

Where was Mrs. Obama dining on that historic night? That's one excursion that didn't get into the public record, and Mrs. Obama doesn't say in the AARP interview--and she may not remember, anyway. In May, during a service event with Congressional spouses at the Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, D.C., Mrs. Obama was overheard telling a Senator's wife that she rarely remembers where she's eaten in DC, because she and the President are always being whisked in and out of eateries through back and side doors.

“I’m like, ‘did I eat here before?’ When I go in a different door, it’s like, I don’t know, I’ve never been there," Mrs. Obama said, adding that she realizes she's visited a restaurant only if staff welcome her back. Usually, the First Lady finds out where she's eaten from media reports, she said.

“The papers know--they always know,” Mrs. Obama said. “I always read about myself, what I did.”

The Dougie...
There's no mention of Mrs. Obama's Let's Move! campaign during the interview, but she does discuss her dance outing at DC's Alice Deal Middle School, when she joined more than 400 students who were doing pop-star Beyonce's Let's Move Flash Workout, created for the campaign. How long did it take Mrs. Obama to learn the dance routine, especially The Dougie, she's asked:

"Hey, I've got little kids. They're always trying something. And I happen to be very good at dance-mimicking," Mrs. Obama said, and laughed. "For some reason, if I watch somebody do a move for a while, and it's not too hard or complicated or requires me to throw my leg over my head and flip, I can sort of figure it out."

A future in politics?
Asked about her future in politics, Mrs. Obama said "The answer is N-O. Period, dot." Biden also said she has no interest in a future political career.

"I think one reason Jill and I are comfortable and happy is that we're doing what speaks to us. And what I've learned as a woman growing up, getting older, is you've got to know who you are. And a politician--it's never been who I was or wanted to be," Mrs. Obama said.

Tomorrow, Mrs. Obama will make a day trip to Aspen, Colorado, and Park City, Utah, for two high-end fund-raisers with entry fees that range between $1,000 to $35,800. Both events are hosted by Obama bundlers, reports Chicago Sun-Times' Lynn Sweet: Mark and Nancy Gilbert in Park City, and in Aspen, about 200 people are expected at the home of Chicagoans Jim and Paula Crown. Jim Crown was Obama's 2008 Illinois co-finance chairman. Mrs. Obama has appeared at nine fundraisers since the 2012 campaign kickoff in April.

More excerpts:

On creating Joining Forces:

MICHELLE OBAMA: "My affinity and passion for military families came out of meeting many of these women while campaigning. Their stories moved me."

"The population that AARP serves has some of the highest numbers of people who volunteer. We've got military families who are in need today, and our Joining Forces call to action is a way to use that wonderful time and energy and direct it toward some of these families."

"People don't have to reinvent themselves. If you live near a base, there are plenty of opportunities, whether it's throwing a baby shower for expectant mothers or doing things at the schools with military kids or offering to drive a car pool. Those things matter."

"Look within your own community. Look within your church, your kids' school. Connect with military families and find out what their needs are."

On being a role model for African- American girls:

MICHELLE OBAMA: "We did an event for military kids, and there were a lot of African American young girls out there--little black girls who were just proud because they see themselves in somebody who they think is great."

On Jill Biden as a role model for aging gracefully:

MICHELLE OBAMA: "Jill gives whatever aging means this level of grace and excitement. She's smart, she's gorgeous, she's accomplished. She has a strong marriage. And the bonds she has built with all of her children are real. She has created a real family in the midst of Washington, D.C. She's managed to maintain that balance and still be down-to-earth."

Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden appeared jointly on the cover of Parade magazine just after the April launch of the Joining Forces initiative.

*Cover and photo via AARP/The Magazine, by Art Streiber

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