First lady Michelle Obama will speak here Thursday afternoon. She will address members of the military and civil service employees working on Eglin Air Force Base, said Marie Vanover, a spokeswoman for the base.
A news release from Obama’s press office termed the visit “part of the first lady’s ongoing outreach to military families.”
This year has been designated the U.S. Air Force's Year of the Air Force Family.
Vanover said because the purpose of Obama’s visit is to meet and talk to military personnel and their families, current plans are to limit attendance to those on base.
“At this time we want to offer the opportunity to see her to people on base, since this is the year of the Air Force family,” Vanover said.
Obama’s itinerary, according to the White House news release, calls for her to meet first with base leaders and military families.
She’ll then speak “to the Eglin Air Force Base and Hurlburt Field communities” in Hangar 103, which Vanover said can accommodate about 1,000 people.
News of Obama’s visit began to generate excitement off the base before the limited attendance announcement was made. Staunch Democrat Judy Byrne Riley said she was trying to finagle her way onto Eglin.
“This is not the friendliest place for a Democratic first lady,” Byrne Riley said, referring to Okaloosa County’s staunch Republican leanings. “I hope there is a good strong contingent of Democrats who will show up and let her know there are Democrats in the area.”
Jerry Mallory, the chairman of Okaloosa County the Democratic Executive Committee, didn’t sound like he would try to get on base for Obama’s speech. But he said her topic and the effort she is putting forward for military families is laudable.
“As a retired Air Force chaplain, I know that kind of interest in that issue is important,” he said. “Early on, when she made military families one of her priorities I said ‘this is going to be good.’ ”
Christina May, who served at one time in the Air Force on Eglin, said she’d like to see Obama speak.
“Actually, I admire her,” May said. “She seems to me to be a very strong woman. I look at her kids, and she is very family oriented in my mind.”
Brian Haugen, a just-retired Army National Guard lieutenant colonel, said he was “thankful” Obama was visiting Eglin.
“It’s nice for the first family to show their appreciation for the efforts of our fighting men and women,” he said.
Obama will travel from South Florida to make her appearance. She will attend a luncheon at the National Historic Landmark Freedom Tower at Miami Dade College (MDC).
A specific time for her arrival has not been announced.
