Happy Birthday America!

"More than 240,000 men and women deployed in harm's way are defending our rights, and those of mankind, this very minute. They, and especially their families, know this: as long as our Nation continues to raise sons and daughters to sacrifice their individual cares for the greater good of all, the revolutionary spirit of Jefferson, Lincoln, and our Republic lives on.  - excerpt from a message from Admiral Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to the Nation. To read the complete message click here.

Are you the next Military Family of the Year? This year the National Military Family Association celebrates our 40th Anniversary, but we are really celebrating you! Your family could be named our Military Family of the Year and the winner of $1,000 and a trip to Washington, DC. This is your time to tell your personal story or recognize a special family that you know. Take a look at your family’s achievements or those of a military family you know and submit this simple nomination today. Families that are eligible for this award are any active duty, Reserve Component, or retired family of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, or Commissioned Corps of NOAA or PHS, as well as families of fallen service members. Nominate a deserving family today.

First Family Joins Our Association and Others to Support Military Kids Military kids attending the National Military Family Association’s Operation Purple® Camps will benefit from the White House’s new nationwide service initiative -- United We Serve. Many campers will receive backpacks filled with books, snacks, Frisbees and other items. Volunteers from the National Military Family Association, the Sierra Club, and others joined congressional family members and the First Family to fill 15,000 bags for kids.

Alaska, Alabama, and Maryland Join Interstate Compact Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley signed the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children into law today, becoming the 20th State to join the Compact. Candace Wheeler, Deputy Director for Government Relations, was in attendance for the bill signing ceremony. Alabama Governor Bob Riley and Alaska Governor Sarah Palin both signed Compact legislation within the past week. In addition, Hawaii has passed the Compact and is waiting for Governor Linda Lingle to sign it into law. Find out more about the latest news affecting military families.

We identify ways Congress can support families The Personnel Subcommittee of the Senate Armed Services Committee, chaired by Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE), held a hearing on June 3rd to gather input from the National Military Family Association and several military spouses to identify ways to support families in the 2010 National Defense Authorization Act. Kathleen Moakler, Government Relations Director for the National Military Family Association testified before the subcommittee about providing robust family support, managing the effects of multiple deployments, accessing childcare, getting mental health support, and navigating the military medical care system. Click here to read more about what was discussed at the hearing.