To kick off the Month of Military Child, first lady Michelle Obama took part in a pre-Easter celebration yesterday with wounded veterans and their families at the Fisher House on Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., USA Today reports.
Fisher Houses are "comfort homes" built by the Fisher House Foundation on the grounds of major military and Veterans Affairs department medical centers. These homes allow family members of military personnel who are hospitalized to have a comfortable place to stay for the duration of their loved ones' treatment and recovery.
"It is always one of my favorite things to come visit Fisher House," Obama told the group of about 45 recovering service members, their spouses and children, Veteran News Now reports. "This house is a home away from home to so many of our military families. The work they do here is amazing."
Ever the generous guest, the first lady didn't come empty-handed.
Bearing armfuls of Easter cookies made in the White House kitchen, she gave away tickets to the White House Easter Egg Roll and spoke individually with service members and their families, Veterans News Now reports.
Bo -- the Obamas’ beloved Portuguese water dog -- was another highlight of the first lady's visit.
"I brought one of my best friends in the whole world, my only son," Obama said, before Bo -- adorned with a pair of bunny ears -- emerged to the squeals of children.
"Our military families, our troops -- you all deserve this kind of high-level treatment for what you go through for this country, for what you sacrifice," Obama said, according to TheFw.com.
In January, the Obama administration announced a system-wide approach to strengthening support and services for military families -- and just yesterday, the White House announced that the first lady has won the commitment for 15,000 new jobs for veterans and military spouses.