Jill Biden Visits New York Guardsmen

American Forces Press Service

Sept. 22, 2009 - Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, met here yesterday with New York National Guard personnel and their families following an appearance in the state with President Barack Obama. Biden met with Army Maj. Gen. Joseph J. Taluto, adjutant general of the New York National Guard; family members of deployed soldiers; and professionals who support the New York National Guard's Family Program.

The Bidens' son, Joseph "Beau" Biden III, is a captain in the Delaware Army National Guard and is currently deployed in Iraq. Biden has made support for the families of National Guard and Reserve members one of her priority issues as the nation's "second lady."

"I have talked to hundreds of servicemembers and families in my travels around the country, and I have listened to their concerns," Biden said. "As a military mom, this is personal to me too -- and I am doing as much as I can to raise awareness of the special challenges that Guard members and their families face.

"I hope to encourage more Americans to think about how they can show appreciation for our military families," she said.

Biden, an English professor who holds a doctorate in education, accompanied Obama to Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y., yesterday where the president called for a "new generation of innovation" and announced $100 billion in economic stimulus for the effort.

Biden took advantage of her visit to the capital region to find out more about the New York Guard's Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program to help redeployed soldiers reintegrate to civilian life, and the Guard's family support programs.

"I enjoyed learning more today about the New York National Guard's reintegration programs and the critical ways the Guard is working to better support our soldiers and their families before, during and after deployments," she said.

Following a meeting with administrators of the Guard's Family Program, Biden met with family members of soldiers in the 206th Military Police Company, headquartered here, who are currently deployed in Basra, Iraq. She also met briefly with members of 3rd Battalion, 142nd Aviation, who recently returned from Iraq.

(From the New York National Guard public affairs office.)