LOS ANGELES (AP) - Michelle Obama has found an unusual ally - reality - in its effort to bring attention to the needs of military families.
The first lady, appearing Sunday on the first season two-part "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition", said the program was the right platform for the cause.
"We live in a media age, and one of the things that we always share our love for television," and can tell stories effectively, Obama said. "We thought it was a great place to highlight the difficulties and challenges and triumphs of one family in particular."
The first lady, appearing Sunday on the first season two-part "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition", said the program was the right platform for the cause.
"We live in a media age, and one of the things that we always share our love for television," and can tell stories effectively, Obama said. "We thought it was a great place to highlight the difficulties and challenges and triumphs of one family in particular."
Barbara Marshall of Fayetteville, North Carolina, who served in the Navy for 15 years, was appalled by the number of homeless women veterans and set steps-N-Steps Jubilee House to provide shelter, counseling and support . When the house was cramped and inadequate, "Extreme Makeover" and the first lady joined
She finished with the series host Ty Pennington, a local developer and community volunteers at Jubilee House project and was on hand at the unveiling to surprise Marshall.
The episode focuses on a "history of strong women strong, powerful group of women who come together and help each other. So we are very excited about it as a way to tell their story, "said Obama.
Marshall is evidence that many military families who are facing their own challenges "still find ways to serve others," said Obama.
The show should also be a message that a strong, independent, non-veterans may be able to ask for help and ask for help, he said. Obama said that he had not seen the final version of the program.
"So we have a responsibility not to encourage them to seek help. And hopefully, watching this show, viewers will have some ideas in their heads, how they can meet, either as individuals or as religious groups or school groups, or as teachers or employers' and find ways to help military families, she said.
The first lady also is seen on more familiar ground in the show, giving Pennington a visit to the White House lawn.
She and Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, help direct the military assembly, an initiative to increase public awareness and support for families of men and women who serve in the army.
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