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First lady announces military family initiative
by Laura McCallum, Minnesota Public Radio
March 25, 2003

First lady Mary Pawlenty announces a new program to help families of Minnesota soldiers serving in the war on Iraq. (MPR Photo/Laura McCallum)

Minnesota first lady Mary Pawlenty announced a program Tuesday to help the families of soldiers who have been deployed because of the war with Iraq. The first lady says she's been moved by the Minnesotans she's met who've said goodbye to their family members who were called to active duty.

St. Paul, Minn. — The so-called Family Care Initiative will create an online database of community-based organizations willing to volunteer to help the families of soldiers who've been deployed. About 750 Minnesota National Guard members have been sent overseas.

First lady Mary Pawlenty says soldiers could be gone for a year, leaving their families with extra responsibilities.

	Maj. Gen. Eugene Andreotti

"There was a mother recently at one of the deployments who came up to me, and she said, 'You know, every spring, my son,' -- and he was being deployed that day -- 'my son always came over to my house and he would wash my windows. If you start some kind of program, does that mean you're going to be coming over to my house and washing my windows?'" Pawlenty says. "If that mother is out there and she's watching, I would like her to know that, yes, that's exactly what this means. I'd like to come over and wash your windows!"

Pawlenty says organizations can volunteer to make a meal or mow the lawn for a family. She says the soldiers' families aren't asking for help, and they have a good support network in place. But Pawlenty says if troops are deployed for months, families may realize they need help weeks or months down the road.

Minnesota National Guard Maj. Gen. Eugene Andreotti says he's not worried about the soldiers -- he says they're prepared for the responsibility of their mission. He says he's concerned about the family members they leave behind, because their deployment often creates single-parent families.

A four-year-old child has no understanding or opinion regarding the negotiations among the U.N. Security Council members. They just know that mom or dad has left for a very long time. - First lady Mary Pawlenty

"We have some ladies out there with a couple of children. They're very busy at this time. They're replacing that other parent. Well, someone coming up and saying ... we're going to take on this responsibility and and cut your lawn," Andreotti says. "I think it goes back to when 9/11 happened -- it's what can we do now to help each other. And this is one way that Minnesotans can help, especially those members that are serving in uniform."

Andreotti says the program is not designed to help families financially. First lady Pawlenty also stressed that the initiative doesn't take a stand for or against the war with Iraq.

"A four-year-old child has no understanding or opinion regarding the negotiations among the U.N. Security Council members. They just know that mom or dad has left for a very long time."

Pawlenty says organizations interested in volunteering should sign up on the governor's Web site. Military families can then access the database.

Gen. Andreotti says another 28 Minnesota soldiers from an Inver Grove Heights battalion will be deployed this weekend.

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