With her son serving in the Marines, Second Lady Karen Pence knows all too well about sacrifice from our service members and their families…
Last week in Meridian, Mississippi, Karen Pence—wife of Vice President of the United States Mike Pence—visited Meridian Naval Air Station where she met with female service members and military spouses alike. The visit was part of celebrating Women’s History Month, which is observed in March. The Second Lady encouraged those in attendance to support one another and to utilize resources that are available to them. Mrs. Pence recognized that as women associated with the military, it’s important to band together and offer one another kindness.
This is all the more true in the military, which is predominantly male. Because of this fact women often find themselves lacking in fellowship with others and as such one can never truly know what other individuals are experiencing. As military parents themselves, Vice President and Mrs. Pence are adamant supporters of the Armed Forces and are familiar with some of the challenges – their son is a Marine.
I think it’s incredibly vital for the United States to see women like Mrs. Pence show up to give talks and offer support. As a spouse of a public official, the Second Lady knows firsthand how grueling life can be when duty to country so often comes first. It’s also very important to bring a diverse crowd of various political affiliation and beliefs together for a common goal. Regardless of beliefs and opinions, these gatherings can be successful and productive because there are issues and concerns that extend well beyond politics that benefit from meetings such as this.
For a woman in the military, there are numerous challenges that can hinder the morale of the service member such as lack of support. Hearing the voice of someone as influential and insightful as Karen Pence supports and encourages women affiliated with the military and is exactly what the country needs. The Second Lady should be applauded for demonstrating that she’s up to the job, one that comes with her own husband’s service to the United States.
Before people try to downplay the actions of Mrs. Pence, it should be noted that former Vice President Joe Biden’s wife—Dr. Jill Biden—also took initiative to advocate for military families. So it’s not at all uncommon for the Second Lady of the United States to speak at events featuring the military community. Mrs. Pence has recently had to face media scrutiny over something Vice President Pence said in 2002 regarding their marriage and how he wouldn’t dine alone with another woman. I can’t imagine the type of stress it must put on family members to see headlines that grasp at straws for the sole purpose of creating a negative buzz. Since the media has made a scandal out of absolutely nothing, I think it’s important to highlight the good work that the families of public officials are contributing that go largely unnoticed. It makes a world of difference in the lives of those in the military community who have a lifestyle that cannot be found anywhere else.
Angelina Newsom is an OpsLens Contributor and U.S. Army Veteran. She has ten years experience in the military, including a deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. She studies Criminal Justice and is still active within the military community.
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