Myer’s wife featured as Mother's Day 'Power Player'

  • Published
  • By Gene Harper
  • American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON (AFPN) --  Military spouses and servicemembers' mothers commit their lives as their servicemembers do, and they love them because they love their country, said the wife of the nation's top military officer on a Mother's Day nationwide television appearance May 8.

Mary Jo Myers, wife of Gen. Richard B. Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was the special guest for this week's "Power Player" segment on "Fox News Sunday."

"When it comes to caring and compassion and the number of people she helps, we chose pretty well," said show host Chris Wallace in announcing Mrs. Myers. "On this Mother's Day, her thoughts are of all the moms whose children are serving in the military or have been lost in combat."

"I think our whole country is more grateful and more indebted than we can express for their service and for their sacrifices," Mrs. Myers said in her special Mother's Day message for military moms.

The top military spouse told Mr. Wallace about her wide-ranging experiences and contact with servicemembers while supporting her husband's work and travel worldwide in his four years as chairman.

She also spoke about her visits with wounded troops at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here.

"There has not been a time when we have not come away from that experience without being uplifted and humbled by the spirit that you see with these young men and women," she said.

Mr. Wallace recognized the chairman's wife for her work with Operation Hero Miles. People have donated more than 3 million airline miles and 3,000 plane tickets so that loved ones of wounded troops could visit them during their hospital treatment and rehabilitation.

He also talked about her help in organizing U.S. children to send thousands of Valentine's Day cards to servicemembers deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. Mrs. Myers told Mr. Wallace about one Soldier who opened one such envelope and found a coin inside.

Mrs. Myers said the message read, "’Dear Soldier, this coin has been lucky for me. I hope it will be lucky for you too.’ (On such occasions) you see (the servicemembers) wipe away a tear.”

Mrs. Myers thanked Mr. Wallace for recognizing the service of spouses throughout the Department of Defense.

"It's just a privilege to serve," she said on their behalf.