First Lady Maureen McDonnell Launches "Serve a Service Member's Family" Campaign
– Asks Virginians to Help Families of Military Service Members –
**Governor and First Lady to Visit with Military Families Tomorrow – Visits are Open to the Press**
RICHMOND - In remembrance of September 11th, Virginia First Lady Maureen McDonnell is launching a new campaign aimed at helping the families of deployed Members of the Armed Forces. The "Serve a Service Member's Family" effort asks Virginians, and Virginia businesses, to help family members with everyday tasks every month. To kickoff the campaign, the First Lady, joined by the Governor, will visit military families in the Richmond area tomorrow and bring them dinner. Details about the visits can be found below.
Speaking about the campaign, the First Lady noted, "I've been a military daughter, wife, and mom. I know what it's like to wait anxiously for a phone call from across the world, and what it's like to hold down my own "fort" while a family member is at one of their own. I want Virginians with loved ones who are deployed to know that there is a military family in the Governor's Mansion. We know what they are going through, and we are committed to uniting Virginians in support of our military families. I'm asking all Virginians, and Virginia businesses, to lend a hand to a military family, whether on the 11th of every month, or any day that they could use help. Examples could include mowing the lawn, fixing a leaky sink, offering to babysit for a well deserved night out, delivering a home cooked meal one night, or helping run some errands. Whatever the act of kindness may be, it will mean the world to a husband or wife, a mom or dad. I know it would have meant the world to me when I was carrying the weight of running our home when my husband was away. Let's not forget that the families of our service members are the quiet heroes of the freedoms we wake up to every morning. Let's show them Virginia cares, and Virginians are here to help."
The "Serve a Service Member's Family" campaign is part of FLITE, the First Lady's Initiatives Team Effort. FLITE recognizes programs, activities, organizations, or individuals who embody the ideal of "getting involved and giving back." Its purpose is to bring attention to the great work being done by selfless people around the Commonwealth who are taking the opportunity to leave the Commonwealth a better place than they found it.
You can learn more about FLITE here: http://www.firstlady.governor.virginia.gov/Initiatives/FLITE/
Details about tomorrow's kickoff events for "Serve a Service Member's Family" are below. All members of the media are invited and encouraged to attend these events.
Event Details:
What: Governor and Mrs. McDonnell Visits Family in Moseley
When: 1:30pm
Where: Please contact Taylor Thornley for the address: Taylor.Thornley@Governor.Virginia.Gov or 804-347-7737
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What: Governor and Mrs. McDonnell Visits Two Families at Fort Lee
When: 2:30pm
Where: Please call Sara Gauvin (Fort Lee Public Affairs Officer) for the addresses: 804-400-7273
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