Second Lady Visits Chicago-Area Illinois National Guard Soldiers

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Dr. Jill Biden comforts tear-filled Angela Hornbeck, daughter of Illinois Army National Guard Soldier Sgt. 1st Class William Hornbeck, June 16 at the Chicago School of Psychology.

• Sgt. 1st Class Mike Chrisman of Athens, with the 139th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment in Springfield, explains the issues he and his family faced with upon his return from a 2006 to 2007 deployment

CHICAGO, IL (06/17/2011)(readMedia)-- Dr. Jill Biden, second lady of the United States, met with Illinois Army National Guard Soldiers, their families and the Illinois Guard's community partners June 15 and 16 in Chicago.

The visit was Biden's first stop on the Joining Forces tour, a national initiative to support and honor America's servicemembers and their families.

"Michelle Obama and I are joining forces," said Biden. "We created an initiative to get all Americans on board to commit to an act of kindness for a military family. We want everyone to realize the sacrifices that the military and their families are making for all Americans."

Biden kicked off her visit at a USO-sponsored pizza party at D'Agnostino's Pizza and Pub, June 15 in Wrigleyville. There, Biden sat down and spoke with each individual Soldier in attendance and their family. Biden took time to listen to the issues family members of Guardsmen face when their loved ones are deployed. In return she shared her experiences as the mother of a deployed servicemember.

"I'm traveling and Michelle is traveling and our goal is to reach out to as many military families and Americans as we can to say 'hey one percent of Americans are serving and 99 percent of us have to step up and show our thanks,'" said Biden.

After the pizza party Biden, the Soldiers and their families loaded up into a trolley and headed to Wrigley Field to watch the Chicago Cubs play.

"It was a great event that brought a lot of families together," said Staff Sgt. Pablo Salinas of Chicago, a field artillery specialist with Battery B, 2nd Battalion, 122nd Field Artillery Regiment in Chicago. "It was really nice meeting Mrs. Biden. She seemed really down to earth. My family really enjoyed it, especially my daughter."

The following day Biden attended a meeting at the Chicago School of Psychology to learn how they support the emotional and psychological wellbeing of servicemembers and their families. In attendance for the meeting were Maj. Gen. William Enyart of Belleville, the Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard, his wife retired Judge Annette Eckert, community college faculty members, high school teachers, clergymen, Illinois National Guard family service program leaders and Illinois Army Guard Soldiers and their children

"As I have said in the past, the Illinois National Guard is a three-legged stool," said Enyart. "One leg is the Soldier, the other leg is the employer and the third leg is the family. If you don't have all three of those legs that stool is going to topple over."

Each person at the meeting had the chance to explain to Biden the challenges they encounter when dealing with military families. Servicemembers and their children also had the opportunity to share their stories of adjustment issues they experienced after of deployment.

The attendees explained the effectiveness of the programs that are in place for the troops, the plans to expound on these programs and how to create new ones.

"If the family is not taken care of, the Soldier is thinking about things other than his job," explained Enyart. "He is worried about things other than getting the mission done."

At the close of her visit, Biden said she was thoroughly impressed with the Soldiers in the Illinois National Guard and its leadership, which has made an effort to support Soldiers and their families.

"The Illinois National Guard is really showing some leadership in their programs and I think America should really be proud of what they are doing," said Biden.

photo 1) U.S. Army photo by Spc. Chasity Johnson, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs/ Dr. Jill Biden comforts tear-filled Angela Hornbeck, daughter of Illinois Army National Guard Soldier Sgt. 1st Class William Hornbeck, June 16 at the Chicago School of Psychology. Angela explains the obstacles she faced when her father deployed. Biden was in town on the Joining Forces tour, a national initiative to support and honor America's servicemembers and their families.

photo 2) U.S. Army photo by Spc. Chasity Johnson, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs/ Sgt. 1st Class Mike Chrisman of Athens, with the 139th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment in Springfield, explains the issues he and his family faced with upon his return from a 2006 to 2007 deployment with the 1744th Transportation Company to Dr. Jill Biden, second lady of the United States June 16 at the Chicago School of Psychology in Chicago. Biden was in town on the Joining Forces tour, a national initiative to support and honor America's servicemembers and their families.