b'Deputy Secretary of Defense Dr. Kathleen H. Hicks attends U.S. Marines Evening Parade as the guest of honor at the Oldest Post in the Corps, Washington, D.C., July 30, 2021.DoD photo by Air Force Staff Sgt. Brittany A. ChaseHicks Greets Blue Star Families,Veterans, Civilians in Welcome WeekSept. 27, 2021 | By Katie Lane, DoD Newswww.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/2790466/hicks-greets-blue-star-families-veterans-civilians-in-welcome-week/The work of Blue Star Families is vital to ensuring militaryBut, she said, she also knows how difficult military family families and veterans are embraced by their local communitieslife can be at times. I know how tough it is to PCS every and neighborhoods, Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleenfew years, Hicks said. Just as you feel youre getting settled, H. Hicks said at the opener of Blue Star Families Welcomeits time to pack up again. Schools, jobs, neighborhoodsWeek, Sept. 25 - Oct. 3. and relationships are dislocated. Thats why our military Blue Star Families is a national, nonprofit network offamilies and veterans benefit so much from supportive and military families from all ranks and services, including theunderstanding civilian neighbors.National Guard and Reserves, dedicated to supporting, The deputy secretary said she was thankful for the civilian connecting and empowering military families. partners and friends who joined the Welcome Week andEvery year, about 600,000 military families relocate,for their support. It enables our military families to thrive, whether through a movea permanent change of stationorshe said. The warm welcome that you offernot just transitioning out of the military. During Blue Star Welcometo our service members, but to our veterans, care givers, Week, the organization celebrates an opportunity for thesurvivors and their familiescreates that real foundational community to welcome military families into a new dutycommunity connection that says youre home. station, or reentry into civilian life.And that is why Blue Star Welcome Week is so important, The deputy secretary said she is grateful to Blue Star FamiliesHicks said. Each year, hundreds of thousands of military for organizing this important event, because whether onemembers and their families will PCS throughout the U.S. is from a military family or a civilian family, being a part of aand become the newest members of communities all across community is crucial to everyones well-being. the country, she said, adding that by raising awareness now, Hicks also comes from a military family in which herall can work to support not only the military families living father served more than 30 years in the Navy. Growingin communities, but priming neighborhoods to ensure weup, she said she lived all across the United States fromare ready to welcome our military families when they arrive. Connecticut to Hawaii.The benefits of this engagement go both ways, sheI know first-hand that being in a military family can besaid. When a military family or veteran moves into your extremely rewarding, she said in videotaped remarks to Blue Star families, veterans and civilians. Youre part of somethingcommunity, you are rewarded with new neighbors who larger than yourself. You travel and learn different local andare resilient, hard-working and service-minded.regional cultures, cuisines and dialects. You selflessly give toSo, thank you to Blue Star Families for helping us all our nation and contribute to our national security. come together to find solutions that strengthen all of us. JThank You For Your Service HOctober 2021H Military Appreciation Resource Magazine 15'