News>Academy cadet honored during White House ceremony
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Cadet Staff Sgt. Moranda Hern, Air Force Academy sophomore, speaks as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff U.S. Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey; Jill Biden, the vice-president’s wife; First Lady Michelle Obama; and Tom Brokaw, television journalist, listen at the First Anniversary of Joining Forces ceremony on the south lawn of the White House April 11, 2012. Hern was one of the 20 finalists in the Joining Forces Community Challenge that recognized citizens, communities and organizations for their efforts in supporting military families. . (Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Jess D. Harvey)
Tom Brokaw, television journalist, and Cadet Staff Sgt. Moranda Hern, Air Force Academy sophomore, listen to the First Lady’s speech at the First Anniversary of Joining Forces ceremony on the south lawn of the White House April 11, 2012. Joining Forces, pioneered by First Lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden, is a national initiative that mobilizes all sectors of society to support military members and families. Hern was one of the 20 finalists in the Joining Forces Community Challenge for starting the Sisterhood of the Traveling BDUs organization that aims to help daughters ages 13-18 of military members connect and build relationships. (Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Jess D. Harvey)
Cadet Staff Sgt. Moranda Hern, Air Force Academy sophomore, receives a hug from First Lady Michelle Obama after Hern spoke at the first anniversary of Joining Forces ceremony on the south lawn of the White House April 11, 2012. Also on stage were Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff U.S. Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey; Jill Biden, the vice-president’s wife; and Tom Brokaw, television journalist. Hern was one of the 20 finalists in the Joining Forces Community Challenge that recognized citizens, communities and organizations for their efforts in supporting military families. Hern was one of the 20 finalists in the Joining Forces Community Challenge for starting the Sisterhood of the Traveling BDUs organization that aims to help daughters ages 13-18 of military members connect and build relationships. The challenge was part of the Joining Forces program, pioneered by First Lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden, which is a national initiative that mobilizes all sectors of society to support military members and their families. (Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Jess D. Harvey)
Cadet Staff Sgt. Moranda Hern, Air Force Academy sophomore, speaks as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff U.S. Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey; Jill Biden, the vice-president’s wife; First Lady Michelle Obama; and Tom Brokaw, television journalist, listen at the first anniversary of Joining Forces ceremony on the south lawn of the White House April 11, 2012. Hern was one of the 20 finalists in the Joining Forces Community Challenge that recognized citizens, communities and organizations for their efforts in supporting military families. . Hern started the Sisterhood of the Traveling BDUs organization that aims to help daughters ages 13-18 of military members connect and build relationships. The challenge was part of the Joining Forces program, pioneered by First Lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden, which is a national initiative that mobilizes all sectors of society to support military members and their families. (Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Jess D. Harvey)
by Airman 1st Class Zachary Vucic
Defense Media Activity
4/12/2012 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- An Air Force Academy cadet who cofounded a non-profit organization that supports daughters of military members was honored during a White House ceremony on April 11.
Cadet Staff Sgt. Moranda Hern spoke at the White House during ceremonies marking the first anniversary of "Joining Forces," a national initiative established by First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden to ensure military families have the support they have earned.
Hern was one of 20 finalists in the Joining Forces Community Challenge, recognizing citizens, communities, schools, non-profit organizations, faith-based institutions, philanthropic organizations and local governments for their efforts in supporting military families with several, non-monetary, national prizes.
Hern's program, The Sisterhood of the Traveling BDUs, aims to support daughters of military members, ages 13-18, through organized gatherings, speakers, sharing experiences and encouraging them to lead in their own communities. Part of the reason the sisterhood is important to Hern, she says, is that it hits close to home. Her father served in the Air National Guard for years, and although she understood the lifestyles of military families, she said her father's deployment to Afghanistan hit her fairly hard.
Hern spoke on the south lawn of the White house to an audience that included fellow speakers the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff U.S. Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey; Dr. Jill Biden, the vice-president's wife; First Lady Michelle Obama; and Tom Brokaw, a television journalist.
