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Obama declares Military Family Month

For 14 years, the Armed Forces YMCA and others have celebrated November as Military Family Month. Now, President Barack Obama has made it official throughout the country — at least for this November.

“I call on all Americans to honor military families through private actions and public service for the tremendous contributions they make in the support of our service members and our nation,” Obama stated in his proclamation, signed Oct. 30, designating November 2009 as Military Family Month.

Obama included the parents of service members in his message, as well as spouses and children. “As sons and daughters, husbands and wives, and mothers and fathers are deployed, military families endure with exceptional resilience and courage,” he wrote. “They provide our troops with invaluable encouragement and love, and serve our nation in their own right.”

During this month, he said, “we honor the families of our Armed Forces and thank them for their dedication to our country.”

“The strength of our nation is measured not just by our success on the battlefield, but also by our ability to support those families who have made so many sacrifices for us. Time and again, military families have shown their heart in the face of adversity.”

Obama urged the nation to support not only those in uniform and their families, but also the families of wounded and fallen warriors.