Melania Trump and Usha Vance Visit Military Families at Fort Rucker Ahead of Thanksgiving

Love Thunderstruck. How's everybody doing? How's everybody doing? Okay, hey, this time last year, the first lady and second lady was with the Marines, and they were extremely loud. I said we could do better. Tracking? All right, so here we go. I'm going to say above the best, and you're going to say fly army. Tracking? Above the best. That's not that good. One more time. Above the best. All right, great, great. Hey, a couple comments as I introduce the second lady. I just want to say thank you to the team that put this together. I appreciate the band from Fort Benning being here, 283rd, from our 1AB brigade putting this, ours, together. And let's give a round of applause for our protocol. So with that said, good morning. Wiregrass mayors, state representatives, wings of the Wiregrass honorees, Our Gold Star families, distinguished guests, soldiers, and families, welcome home to Fort Rucker, home of Army Aviation. Yesterday across our great nation, we paused for Veterans Day to honor those who have worn the uniform. Today, as we celebrate Military Family Appreciation Month, we turn our focus to you, the spouses and the children who form the bedrock of our military readiness. It's incredibly fitting that today we are joined by two very special guests, the First Lady of the United States, Ms. Melania Trump, and the Second Lady of the United States, Ms. Usha Vance, who each share the same exact dedication to our family members. Ms. Trump, Ms. Vance, welcome to Fort Rucker. You being here today, we are honored, and it's truly a historical event. It's my privilege to introduce the Second Lady of the United States, who is no stranger to the pursuit of excellence. A native of San Diego, Ms. Vance earned her bachelor's degree from Yale University, a master's degree from the University of Cambridge as a Gates Cambridge Scholar, and her law degree from Yale Law School. As an accomplished litigator, she clerked at the highest levels of the judiciary, including for Chief Justice John G. Roberts on the Supreme Court of the United States. But beyond her formidable professional achievements, she is a devoted mother. And as Second Lady of the United States, she has channeled her passion for education into action. Through her summer reading challenge or her story time with the Second Lady Initiative, she has actively championed childhood literacy, ensured our youngest citizens, including our military children, develop a lifelong love for reading and learning. Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in extending a warm Fort Rucker and Wiregrass welcome to the Second Lady of the United States, Ms. Usha Vance. Everyone. Thank you for that warm welcome. It's such a pleasure to be here on this beautiful fall day at Fort Rucker, here with all of you. The First Lady is a wonderful travel companion, it goes without saying, and I have the honor of introducing her today. But before I do, and with Thanksgiving fast approaching, I'd like to begin with a moment of gratitude. The men and women serving on this base stand ready to answer our nation's call, wherever it might take you. You've chosen to accept that duty not for personal enrichment or glory, but out of devotion to your families and communities, to all of your fellow Americans. For that, our nation and our family is indebted to you. My husband JD served in the Marine Corps, and I know from him just how much service asks of families. Like our men and women in uniform, the children and spouses who call this base home make great sacrifices. And it's so wonderful to see so many of you here. But one thing that I cherish about visiting places like this is seeing the close-knit communities that military families build together on base. Wherever your country sends you, you find a way to make it a home. And today, I'm so grateful to all of you for welcoming us into your home. Later today, the First Lady and I are looking forward to visiting your elementary I'm from the elementary school here at Fort Rucker. We're excited to see firsthand the work your teachers are doing to give children an excellent education. Your schools are a moving reminder of just how much our military communities invest in the next generation. As some of you might know, ensuring that every American child receives a great education is one of my personal priorities in life and in this period when I'm second lady. This summer, more than 30,000 children from across the country, some on this military base I believe, participated in my second annual summer reading challenge, logging a total of 360,000 books. I've also worked with Congress and the Department of War schools to remove cell phones from classrooms and ensure that children everywhere, including here, can learn an engaging, distraction-free environment. And I know that the First Lady shares my passion for giving children every opportunity to thrive. A cause she has made the central mission of her public life, and that inspires me every day. Through her Fostering the Future initiative, she has devoted countless hours to supporting children in foster care. Her work has encompassed everything from expanding scholarship opportunities and access to tech education, to securing housing support for young Americans transitioning to adulthood. The First Lady has been a powerful voice for peace, helping to facilitate humanitarian aid in Ukraine and reunite children in the region with their families. And I know she is thrilled, just absolutely thrilled, to spend today with so many families who share her commitment to service. In a few weeks, Americans will gather around their Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. And I hope everyone gathered here knows that millions of your fellow Americans, including my family, will be giving thanks for you. And now, it's my privilege to introduce a woman who has devoted herself to serving our nation's children and families, and who represents our country with such grace and dignity. Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in welcoming our First Lady, Melania Trump. Thank you, Usha. Thank you for your kind introduction and my gratitude to you and your family for your service to our nation. Major General Baker, your service to our nation has taken you across the world, from South Korea and Kosovo to Iraq, Europe, Afghanistan, and throughout the United States. Your personal sacrifices embody the best of America's military. Thanksgiving is just a few weeks away, and I so look across this room at Fort Rucker today. I want to take a moment to say thank you to one very important group of people, the families of America's military. Your role is profound. While your loved ones are deployed, it is up to you to keep your families strong, Keep your children safe and keep your homes full of love. This is a big responsibility. I recognize that your sacrifices extend far beyond Thanksgiving. Although it is the holiday season which brings the image of an empty seat at your table into our collective focus. I know each of you has those quiet moments when you are on your own and you wish your loved one was home to help with homework, to be there to celebrate that winning touchdown, the birthdays and of course do bedtime. The sacrifices of military families don't make the headlines but you are the foundation for the world's most capable military. Visiting America's military bases is special to me. Our soldiers are the best in the world. Our equipment is elite and our determination is second to none. At its heart, service in the United States military is a commitment to defend our Constitution. Our warriors are there today ready to protect our individual liberty, our freedom to speak as we wish, to assemble peacefully, and to worship according to our own beliefs. America is blessed with the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, two of the most consequential documents in human history. The words in these documents, however, cannot protect themselves. It takes Americans willing to put something greater than themselves first, freedom. Your service is not transactional in nature. Your service will have an impact for generations. Here at Fort Rucker, we see powerful aircraft take off to the heavens. But behind the strength of those pilots who rise into the skies is the work of your loved ones who remain on the ground. To every American watching us today, in a few weeks you will be sitting around your Thanksgiving table in the warmth of your own home, surrounded by your loved ones, sharing a wonderful meal and perhaps enjoying a football game on television. Take a moment to think of America's service people and the families with an open seat at their Thanksgiving table. Those families are just as important in maintaining America's elite status and in protecting our freedom. May God bless our military families, protect our troops, and happy Thanksgiving from Fort Rucker. Thank you.