First Lady, Dr. Biden Kick Off Sesame, USO Tour

By Elaine Sanchez 
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, April 18, 2011 - Last week I traveled to Ohio to attend a "Joining Forces" event for local military families and community members in the Columbus area.

First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden pose with some of the cast of Sesame Street during a "Joining Forces" community event in Columbus, Ohio, April 14, 2011. The event also kicked off the Sesame Street and USO Experience for Military Families, a free traveling tour exclusively for military families. DOD photo by Elaine Sanchez

First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, hosted the concert-style event to thank military families as well as to encourage community members to support and honor them as part of the White House's Joining Forces family support initiative. The event also helped to kick off a new installment of the Sesame Street and USO Experience for Military Families, a free traveling tour exclusively for military families.
Elmo, Grover, Cookie Monster and friends offered a preview of the traveling show, which features a new theme and a new character named Katie, a military child about to move. During the musical show, Katie opens up to her Muppet friends about her fears, and excitement, over her upcoming move. With the help of a few songs, Elmo and other Sesame pals reassure her that she'll make new friends while still remaining close with old ones.
The show was a blast, although my ears are still ringing from the screaming fans, particularly after singer Nick Jonas of the Jonas Brothers made a special appearance.
The traveling show will kick off its around-the-world tour with a stop in Alaska later this month, and will continue with stops in Hawaii, Guam, South Korea, Turkey, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, the United Kingdom and Spain.
For up-to-date tour information, people can visit the USO website.
For more on Joining Forces, visit the White House website or Defense.gov's special report.
For more on Family Matters, visit the blog or check out Family Matters on Facebook or Twitter.