First lady Michelle Obama approaches the podium alongside Maj. Gen. Charles R. Davis, commander of the Air Armament Center, before she speaks to the crowd at Eglin Air Force Base on Thursday.
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE — Maj. Gen. Charles Davis introduced her as “one of this most distinguished visitors in this base’s 75 year history.”
And when first lady Michelle Obama stepped to the podium and smiled, the cheers rocked Hangar 103 on Eglin Air Force Base.
View a photo gallery from Michelle Obama’s visit »
To view a second gallery from the First Lady’s visit, click here
Obama visited the base Thursday to acknowledge the Air Force’s celebration of 2009 as its “Year of the Family.”
Before speaking to a jam-packed and sweaty crowd of easily 1,000, she met with several families stationed here.
Then she told her mostly military audience she “stood in awe” of their sacrifice to the nation.
“I’m in awe of every single one of you,” she said. “And I’m also in awe of the people here, the people who have your back.”
The first lady pledged the Obama administration’s support for military pay raises and the expansion of the Military Family Leave Act.
“We’re working to make sure your voices are heard in Washington,” she told the crowd.
She vowed to work with the Air Force to provide career enhancement to airmen and promised federal support to military families who have lost their homes during this period of financial crisis.
“It now falls upon us as a grateful nation,” she said. “It is time for us to give back to our military families.”
Obama acknowledged that the communities around Eglin appreciate the military in ways that many areas, particularly those without bases, do not, and she reminded the audience to be mindful of the needs of the military families in those areas.
She urged those in attendance to “reach out and find out if there’s a military person who needs a hand.”
“It could be something as simple as babysitting or helping out with a carpool,” she said.
“At the very least, you can do one simple thing. You can take the time to say thank you,” she said. “Say thank you for the sacrifice you’re making for this nation.”
It was clear following the event Obama has a fan base at Eglin. She spent several minutes shaking hands and saying hello to those she could reach while others further back strained to get cell phone pictures.
“To hear someone of such importance give us a voice, it’s nice, it’s refreshing,” said Staff Sgt. Sarah Beasley, who was able to capture a couple of photos. “This was a good time.”
Jose Barreiro, a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army, and his wife met with Obama prior to her speech. He said she didn’t talk issues and he was grateful for that.
“I’m not a P.R. guy. I’m not a politician. I just care about doing my job,” he said.
He said Obama focused more on his wife than she did on him and that he was “surprised to see how down to earth she was.”
Airman First Class Alyssa Wetzel said she took away from Thursday’s event a greater appreciation for what she does.
“She made me feel like I’m actually making a difference,” said Wetzel, who had just returned from a four-month deployment. “I really appreciate that she took so much time to thank us. It’s nice to hear they appreciate what we do.”
Okaloosa County Commission Chairman Bill Roberts said Obama’s speech was exactly what he’d hoped for.
“I think she really talked about what she came to talk about,” he said. “She talked about what folks do. I think she spoke to the hearts of the men and women who have to deploy.”
After the event, Obama took a long moment to speak to Virgil Brown, a local physician who attended fourth grade with the first lady in Chicago.
Brown said Obama let him know she remembered him and that she’d signed a class picture he had brought.
“She signed the picture and she gave me a big hug,” Brown said. “It was a day to remember.”
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