First Lady Urges Hollywood to Tell Military Family Stories

By Elaine Sanchez

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, June 14, 2011 – WASHINGTON, June 14, 2011 – The entertainment industry can help to shine the light on military families by incorporating their compelling stories into movies and television, First Lady Michelle Obama said yesterday during a panel discussion hosted by the entertainment guilds in Los Angeles.

Speaking to an audience of about 500 producers, writers, actors and directors, the first lady discussed her “Joining Forces” military-support campaign and how Hollywood can play a role in her quest to stir up national support for military families.

Writer-director J.J. Abrams, who moderated the panel, kicked off the discussion by asking Obama what sparked her passion for military family support.

The first lady traced it back to her time on the campaign trail with her husband. As she met in small groups with working women, she heard voices she hadn’t heard from before – military spouses. These women -- and men -- talked about juggling careers and deployments, raising kids and managing moves, and dealing with finances alongside post-deployment reconnections.

“These stories took my breath away,” she said, “because they were so unfamiliar to me. And I thought, ‘Well, if I don't know, and I’m educated and I consider myself aware, then where are we in this country? Why don't we know about these families? Why don't we know their struggles? Why aren’t we pushing for them?”

Obama said she vowed, if her husband got elected, to use her platform to give military families a voice, “because truly, these families are amazing.”

Military families also are strong, she noted, but because of this strength that’s so integral to military life, they often don’t complain or reach out for support.

“That’s one of the reasons we don’t know about them,” she said. “They count on each other, and they don't ask for help. Well, they shouldn’t have to ask for help.”

In a year’s time, the first lady said, she’d like see a nation where military families know their sacrifices are understood and appreciated, and that everyone, including the entertainment industry, can step up and help.

“It can be telling a story on the big screen, on the small screen, or it can be helping a neighbor mow their lawn,” she said. People can volunteer to babysit for an afternoon, cook a meal, offer to fix a heater, or reach out to a reserve family living away from the support of a military installation, she added.

“Small gestures can make a big difference,” the first lady said.

The entertainment industry can bring awareness to these families by showcasing their strength and sacrifice, Obama said.

“You have the vehicle to tell stories that just pull people in,” the first lady told the audience. “I … urge you to do what you do best. Be creative. Be funny. Be powerful. Move us, [and] move America to think differently about these issues and about these families, and about our men and women who serve so graciously.”

The task shouldn’t be too difficult for Hollywood storytellers, she noted, “because the stories are already compelling. The individuals are already pretty powerful.”

Obama thanked the industry for the work they’ve done already to spotlight military families. As an example, she talked about her next stop -- an upcoming appearance on “iCarly,” a Nickelodeon TV series about a teenager who hosts a popular Internet show. On the show, Carly’s dad is deployed. The first lady admitted some nerves about her TV appearance, but said she’ll push them aside to have the opportunity to spotlight military families on the small screen.

“This is an example of the way that we can integrate these story lines into shows,” she said, “and it’s important for kids to hear themselves in the shows that they love.”

Military families will need the nation’s support for the long haul, Obama noted, as the “real work happens when these men and women come home and they’re dealing with the ramifications of war.

“This is a forever battle,” she added. “We have men and women who are serving our country every day, and they’ll be dealing with the consequences of that dedicated service for the rest of their lives, and we have to be there for them and their children.”

To resounding applause, Obama said she and Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, will continue shining a light on military families “so that America understands that when our country goes to war, we have families who are serving right along with them.”

Department Honors Top Communicators

From a Defense Information School News Release

FORT MEADE, Md., May 13, 2011 – The military’s best writers, photographers, and videographers were recognized for excellence in a ceremony at the Defense Information School here today.

Douglas B. Wilson, assistant secretary of defense for public affairs, recognized the award recipients for their achievements.

“Many of those being awarded here today are forward deployed, and it's a tribute to your dedication and professionalism that not only do you adhere to [the Defense Department Principles of Information], you embody them, and the standards of excellence reflected in your work in the most difficult conditions is a credit to you, your units, and the Defense Information School,” Wilson said.

The school hosting the ceremony is the evolutionary result of three separate military schools combining into a single communications school here in 1995.

Air Force Master Sgt. Jeremy T. Lock was named Military Photographer of the Year for an unprecedented fifth time. He also won the award in 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2008, and earned runner-up honors in 2007 and 2009.

“I thrive on working stories, diving into each experience, and living for a moment in a world outside of my norm,” Lock said. “It is an honor to be able to share my vision and hopefully foster awareness, understanding, and empathy.”

The award winners in graphic arts, photography, videography, and print and broadcast journalism covered combat operations, humanitarian assistance, sporting events and daily military news events around the world.

In addition to presenting Lock with his award, Army Col. Gary L. Keck, Defense Information School commandant, presented the awards to the following overall winners:

-- Military Graphic Artist of the Year: Marine Corps Sgt. Shawn P. Sales;

-- Military Videographer of the Year: Air Force Staff Sgt. Burt Traynor;

-- Broadcast Journalist of the Year: Dave Annarino, Defense Media Activity – Army;

-- Print Journalist of the Year: Randy Roughton, Defense Media Activity - Air Force

-- New Broadcaster of the Year: Air Force Airman 1st Class Tori Fleck; and

-- New Military Writer of the Year: Marine Corps Cpl. Reece E. Lodder.

“Thank you for all of the hours you’ve dedicated to perfect your craft in the public affairs and visual information communities,” Keck said. “You have the incredible privilege of telling the story of the men and women who make up the Department of Defense team, and the products you produce consistently deliver immediate and lasting impacts.”

Keck presented 60 awards in all to winners representing all five service branches. The awards programs date back to 1960 for military photojournalists and to 1968 for the Thomas Jefferson Awards for print and broadcast journalists. This year’s Military Graphic Artist of the Year wasn’t alive when the programs started.

“It is an honor to serve my country as a Marine and as an artist,” Sales said. “As a child, the two things that brought me the most enjoyment were art and playing ‘soldier’ with neighboring children. … Although that was many years ago, I have not lost that passion for the military or the art. To have found an occupation that brought both of those interests together is nothing short of amazing. I sometimes feel that this job was made with me in mind.”

Defense Information School graduates are working in a world in which communication is integral, Wilson said. Their efforts are not in a stovepipe, he noted, and are not a separate entity from all that is going on in the world. The award winners’ career fields, he added, are part of policy development, not an afterthought to it, and are an essential part of the military mission, not an adjunct to it.

“What you do here in the continental United States, and around the world -- very often in harm's way now -- to tell the story of our military for our internal and external audiences is critically important,” Wilson said. “Your professional images and the reports you compile provide our internal audiences and the American people the initial look into the most sensitive operations around the world.”

Military-Writers.com Annual Recognition

Military-writers.com, a website dedicated to listing servicemembers (active and honorably discharged) who have written books, annually recognizes servicemember’s contributions through its “Military-Writers.com Annual Recognition Program.”

In 2007, Military-Writers.com had one form of recognition, “Military-Writers.com Book of the Year.” In 2008, in order to recognize the ongoing career successes and community service aspects of servicemembers, Military-Writers.com will have two forms of recognition: “Military-Writers.com Author of the Year” and “Military-Writers.com Book of the Year.”

Military-Writers.com Book of the Year:
The “Military-Writers.com Book of Year 2008” focuses solely on the written contribution made by the servicemember. It is that book found by the panel of judges to be the most significant literary contribution made by a servicemember in the previous year. Entry requirements are:

The servicemember is listed on www.military-writers.com. (There is no charge for listing on the website and interested servicemembers need only visit the FAQs section of the website and submit the necessary information; The book was published in 2007; and, The application and three copies of the book are received by December 31, 2007.

Military-Writers.com Author of the Year:
The “Military-Writers.com Author of the Year” recognizes published servicemembers continuing career and community services successes. Entry requirements are:

The servicemember is listed on www.military-writers.com. (There is no charge for listing on the website and interested servicemembers need only visit the FAQs section of the website and submit the necessary information; The servicemember published a book anytime prior to December 31, 2007; and, The application and three copies of the any book published by the servicemember are received by December 31, 2007.

Award:
Selected authors will receive:

A Plaque indicating their award;
Press release distribution through the website; and,
Front page exposure on the website throughout the award year.

More information and applications can be found on the website at www.military-writers.com. Military-Writers.com currently lists 36 current or former military servicemembers and their 76 books.

Navy Writers Added

January 31, 2007 (San Dimas, CA) Military-Writers.com, a website listing current, former and active United States Military personnel who have authored books, added two former naval personnel who co-authored a novel.

Leroy E. "Skip" Vogel was born in Bruno, Saskatchewan, Canada, but spent most of his childhood in Nebraska and Minnesota. After graduating from Concordia University, St. Paul, Minnesota, he enrolled at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, where he was awarded the degree of Master of Divinity. He later earned the Master of Sacred Theology degree at Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia and pursued doctoral studies at Harvard University. Skip served for 20 years in the United States Navy, and retired as a Captain. He served on major ships of the line, at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, and at various Naval Stations in the United States and abroad, including Antarctica. He participated in numerous key missions in Southeast Asia, and was awarded an array of medals and decorations.

His co-author, Jerome "JD" Hamilton made a dual contribution to this novel. He is the persona of its leading character, Lain Byrd. In addition, his diary and "letters home" retained from Navy days were integral to shaping the novel's story line and developing the profiles of the leading characters. JD served as a Yeoman in the Navy for four consecutive Commanding Officers aboard a major ship of the line and completed several deployments to the Mediterranean and South America. Following his service, he completed the Department of Defense Industrial Security Training program and was employed by a large federal contractor in Washington, D.C. He currently resides with his wife and three children in Cabot, Arkansas, where he has established three entrepreneurial businesses. His most recent venture involved developing a new data base locator (http://www.tractorfax.org) involving the agricultural and construction equipment industry. He is currently writing a novel of his own reflective of another aspect of Navy life.

In the 1980s, Skip further pursued his interests in history and religion, writing a book titled History, Harmony, and the Hebrew Kings. He taught courses in religious history, public policy, and politics and American life at Concordia Seminary. Skip and his wife, Gloria, live in retirement in Spring Valley, Minnesota. He has four children and twelve grandchildren.

According to the book description, “Skip Vogel's CONSTANT BEARING - DECREASING RANGE: The Collision of Public Policy and National Defense, is a compelling character-driven story of intrigue, tragedy, honor, and humor within the U.S. Navy as it was undermined by the questionable efforts of American politicians and social engineers as they attempted to integrate low aptitude personnel and criminals into our naval forces, and the unfortunate consequences that resulted from these policies.”

Military-Writers.com now list eight former military personnel and their eleven books.