First Lady to Urge Military Family Support at World Series

By Elaine Sanchez
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 18, 2011 – First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, will bring their message of military family and veteran support to a vast audience tomorrow as they attend the first game of the World Series in St. Louis.

Major League Baseball officials have dedicated the game, which pits the Texas Rangers against the St. Louis Cardinals, to veterans and their families, according to an MLB news release. The game will be aired live on the Fox TV network starting at 7:30 p.m. EDT.

Obama and Biden’s aim is to encourage Americans to support and honor veterans, service members and their families through initiatives such as the Joining Forces campaign and Major League Baseball’s Welcome Back Veterans program. Both initiatives support and honor military families and veterans.

"We are honored to have First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden join us for the 2011 Fall Classic to recognize the courageous men and women who serve the country as well as their families," Baseball Commissioner Allan H. “Bud” Selig said in an MLB news release.

"Major League Baseball has raised more than $11 million over the past several years through our Welcome Back Veterans program to help support veterans and their families,” he added. “The World Series gives us the perfect opportunity to build on this ongoing commitment."

During the day, Obama and Biden will join representatives from MLB and the St. Louis Cardinals, including Hall of Famer and Army veteran Red Schoendienst, at a military family appreciation event at the St. Louis Veterans Center, a White House news release said.

Families attending the event will get a sneak peek at the new Joining Forces and MLB public service announcement slated to premiere during the game. The message features the first lady as well as New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira and Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Johnny Damon, both of whom come from military families.

Obama and Biden also will participate in a special pregame ceremony with veterans and military families at Busch Stadium.

Additionally, prior to the game, Obama and Biden will answer questions about the Joining Forces campaign submitted by MLB fans through Facebook and Twitter. People around the country can submit questions through MLB’s Facebook page or on Twitter with the hashtag #AskMichelle.