WASHINGTON—A
nagging worry stumps military leaders in the waning days of two unpopular wars
amid calls to drastically cut defense spending.
What can
they do about the growing disconnect between the shrinking armed forces and the
people they risk their lives to defend?
One answer
being explored more broadly is the Internet.
On Friday,
as the nation celebrated Veterans Day, First Lady Michelle Obama turned to
Google to urge Americans to reach out to military families through a new set of
tools that will let troops share their stories and connect with each other and
the world.
"Each
of us can do something to give back," Obama said in a video released on
Google's new veterans channel on YouTube. Americans, she said, should show
military families their service is appreciated to "truly serve those who
serve us."
For the
nation's 2.2 million soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines, there is a gap
between the military and Main Street that keeps people from understanding their
needs -- from equipment and caring for the wounded to supporting the families
of troops deployed for as long as 12 months at a time.
"I
fear they do not know us," Adm. Mike Mullen, then-chairman of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff, told the 2011 graduating class at the U.S. Military Academy at
West Point in May. "I fear they do not comprehend the full weight of the
burden we carry or the price we pay when we return from battle."
The website
showing Mrs. Obama's video also allows military members and veterans to upload
videos, photos and memories to share their stories online. It also has tools to
help draft a resume and connect with other veterans or prospective employers.
Interested
people can also use the website to post videos of their own to thank service
members.
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U.S. President Barack Obama speaks during a visit to Arlington National
Cemetery in Virginia on Veterans Day, November 11, 2011.
(Credit: Reuters/Kevin Lamarque)
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