East Wing Magazine

East Wing Magazine

Jill Biden Thanks ‘Brave and Bold’ Servicemembers and Families

The first lady steps off her last overseas tour Wednesday with a stop in Italy.

Jennifer Taylor's avatar
Jennifer Taylor
Dec 04, 2024
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First Lady Dr. Jill Biden is seen among locals during her last overseas trip to Italy Wednesday where she stepped off her tour with a visit with servicemembers and their families at Naval Air Station Sigonella in Catania. (Photo by Valeria Ferraro/Anadolu via Getty Images)

In front of a crowd of about 150 servicemembers and their families gathered in the town square at Naval Air Station Sigonella in Catania, Italy, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden reflected Wednesday on her first trip overseas 15 years ago while she served as second lady on what is now the first stop of her final overseas tour.

“I wanted to visit the people who make our freedom possible,” said Biden, who is accompanied on this trip with her daughter, Ashley.

The first lady told servicemembers and their families gathered that they are “the brave and the bold.”

“You’re the spouses who hug twice as hard and cheer twice as loud at football games to fill that empty space beside you, so that other families can celebrate their mileston…

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