FORT CARSON, Colo. — Dr. Jill Biden, first lady, talks to military spouses in honor of Military Spouse Appreciation Day at the Army Community Service building May 6, 2021, at Fort Carson. (Photo by Aleah M. Castrejon)
By Aleah M. Castrejon
Mountaineer editor
FORT CARSON, Colo. — In honor of Military Spouse Appreciation Day, Dr. Jill Biden, first lady, visited Mountain Post spouses at the Army Community Service building May 6, 2021, at Fort Carson.
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Dr. Jill Biden, first lady, talks to spouses in honor of Military Spouse Appreciation Day at the Army Community Service building May 6, 2021, at Fort Carson, Colorado. (Photo by Aleah M. Castrejon)
“There is a saying, ‘if you want to get something done, ask a busy person to do it,’” Biden said. “But after getting to know so many of you …; I think we should change that saying to, ‘if you want to get something done, ask a military spouse.’ You change jobs and you start businesses, you handle the logistics of every move and make sure that your kids have what they need to keep learning, you default parent and are steadfast partners to your spouses.”
Biden shared many stories of military spouses shouldering the responsibilities of both parents, while their significant other is deployed.
“And yet you persevere,” she said.
The first lady gave praises to many Fort Carson spouses for the specific accomplishments they have achieved while “doing it all.”
She named one spouse who is going through an adoption process, another who volunteers as much as she can find time for and another spouse who found a way to build a company to create affordable fitness options for their fellow military spouses.
Krista Cole, who is the spouse of Maj. Adam Cole, Army National Guard, introduced and welcomed Biden, emphasizing Biden’s personal connection to military Families, having had a son in the Delaware Army National Guard.
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Dr. Jill Biden, first lady, greets Kelly McFarlane, left, wife of Maj. Gen. Matthew W. McFarlane, center, commanding general, 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson, in honor of Military Spouse Appreciation Day at the Army Community Service building May 6, 2021, at Fort Carson, Colorado. Biden met with spouses before departing the Mountain Post. (Photo by Aleah M. Castrejon)
“Our guest today understands the need to keep that part of her identity, which is why she is so inspiring,” Cole said. “She is the first, first lady to keep her career once the president has been inaugurated and moved into the White House.”
Biden currently teaches college classes as a professor of writing at Northern Virginia Community College.
“She is now using her position as first lady as a platform to be heard, which includes the initiative ‘Joining Forces,’ and it centers on helping military spouses and their Families,” Cole added.
Linda Mays, executive director, USO, explained how military Families have had to make adjustments to the many changes brought on by COVID-19. Whether a delayed PCS, deployment, financial hardships and quarantine, spouses have stepped in to be the head of the house to take on many more roles, all while teaching their children.
Through 20 years of war, Biden said she knows that military spouses understand changes and challenges, loneliness and anxiety.
“You’ve learned how to push through the hard times, how to adapt and persevere and keep going,” she said. “But these challenges shouldn’t be harder than they need to be, and that’s why Joining Forces, our White House initiative to support military and veteran Family survivors and caregivers, means so much to me. Whether it’s access to better employment opportunities or affordable, quality child care … or better mental health services and wellness resources — we need to do more. Your service to this country has earned nothing less, and giving you the support you need to thrive matters to me and to the president.”
Biden said she understands that for Soldiers to thrive in their jobs and while on deployments, it is imperative that their Families lives are well taken care of.
As a military mother and a military daughter, Biden thanked the spouses for their service.
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Dr. Jill Biden, first lady, signs a book for a military spouse in honor of Military Spouse Appreciation Day at the Army Community Service building May 6, 2021, at Fort Carson. (Photo by Aleah M. Castrejon)
“This community is unlike any other, … and it’s bound together by love: love for our country, love for our service members and love for the communities that you all build together,” Biden said. “And it’s time that we matched that devotion. So, happy Military Spouse Appreciation Day. God bless our troops and their Families.”
Each spouse at the event had the chance to meet with and talk to the first lady. She listened to ideas and thoughts that the spouses presented, she also took the time to sign books and take photographs with many spouses.
“It’s an amazing opportunity, something you don’t think you’ll ever be able to do,” said Erin Nash, wife of Command Sgt. Maj. Adam Nash, 4th Inf. Div. and Fort Carson, expressing her thanks for the first lady’s visit.
Nash said she hopes there will be more of a focus on mental health during the Biden administration.
“I don’t want it to be a stigma; as a military spouse you’re supposed to be strong and power through it all, but the resources have not always been there for us,” Nash said.
She said she would like to see counselors who understand military Families more, specifically Families who have deployed parents.
“Just having her here to support us … especially with the deployed spouses … it means a lot for her to come and take time out of her schedule,” Nash said.
The USO staff, having hosted the event, was grateful for her visit and support.
“With more than 300 USO locations around the globe, USO Colorado is especially honored to host Dr. Jill Biden for her first event with the USO in her capacity as first lady,” Mays said.
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Dr. Jill Biden, first lady, greets Maj. Gen. Matthew W. McFarlane, commanding general, 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson and his wife Kelly, at the Army Community Service building May 6, 2021, at Fort Carson in honor of Military Spouse Appreciation Day. (Photo by Aleah M. Castrejon)
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Dr. Jill Biden, first lady, greets Command Sgt. Maj. Adam Nash, center, 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson and his wife, Erin, left, at the Army Community Service building May 6, 2021, at Fort Carson, Colorado, in honor of Military Spouse Appreciation Day. (Photo by Aleah M. Castrejon)
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Dr. Jill Biden, first lady, speaks to Fort Carson spouses in honor of Military Spouse Appreciation Day at the Army Community Service building May 6, 2021, at Fort Carson, Colorado. (Photo by Aleah M. Castrejon)
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Dr. Jill Biden, first lady, greets Col. Nate Springer, right, commander, U.S. Army Garrison Fort Carson; and Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Marcus W. Brister II, left, in honor of Military Spouse Appreciation Day at the Army Community Service building May 6, 2021, at Fort Carson, Colorado. (Photo by Aleah M. Castrejon)
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Krista Cole, at podium, spouse of Maj. Adam Cole, Army National Guard, introduces Dr. Jill Biden, first lady, during a visit to the Mountain Post in honor of Military Spouse Appreciation Day at the Army Community Service building May 6, 2021, at Fort Carson, Colorado. (Photo by Aleah M. Castrejon)