NOVEMBER 24, 2021 – Service members and their families welcomed the commander-in-chief and the first lady this holiday season.
President Biden, the 46th President of the United States of America and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden visited Fort Bragg to celebrate a Thanksgiving-themed event titled “Friendsgiving,” Nov. 22.
U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Justin Dixon, his spouse Tawni Dixon and their son Cameron Dixon introduced the president and the first lady.
The Dixon family is the 2021 Military Family of the Year for North Carolina and the 2020 Fort Bragg Family of the Year.
The president and first lady both delivered remarks praising the troops and thanking them for their service.
The first family was joined by U.S. Army Gen. Michael Garrett, the commander of U.S. Army Forces Command and Lorelei Garrett, U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Erik Kurilla, the commander of XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg and Mary Paige Kurilla, and U.S. Army Col. John Cogbill, the chief of staff of XVIII Airborne Corps and Jenny Cogbill, to serve meals to more than 250 service members and their Families.
Gov. Roy Cooper, the 75th Governor of North Carolina, and the First Lady of North Carolina, Kristin Bernhardt, joined other state, county, and city elected officials to help serve the holiday meal.
The president and first lady visited each table to speak with service members and their Families as a gesture of gratitude in the spirit of the holiday.
This “Friendsgiving” event is part of the White House initiative “Joining Forces” led by the first lady, to support the families of service members and veterans, caregivers, and survivors. For more information about Joining Forces, please visit: WhiteHouse.gov/JoiningForces.
The service members in attendance represented organizations from across the installation to include U.S. Army Forces Command, XVIII Airborne Corps, Joint Special Operations Command, U.S. Army Special Operations Command, U.S. Army Reserve Command, Security Force Assistance Command, Fort Bragg Garrison, 18th Air Support Operations Group, and Womack Army Medical Center.
By Matthew Visser