FORT CAMPBELL, KY (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – First Lady Jill Biden visited Fort Campbell Wednesday to speak with the families of soldiers deployed to Europe in support of NATO during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

In this, her third visit to Fort Campbell, Dr. Biden attended a barbecue with the families of about 50 deployed soldiers.

First Lady Dr. Jill Biden arrives at Fort Campbell, on Mar. 9 2022. (Lee Erwin)
101st Commander, Major General JP McGee and, CSM Veronica Knapp along with guests, prepare to meet First Lady Dr. Jill Biden as she arrives at Fort Campbell, on Mar. 9 2022. (Lee Erwin)
First Lady Dr. Jill Biden arrives at Fort Campbell, on Mar. 9 2022. (Lee Erwin)
First Lady Dr. Jill Biden arrives at Fort Campbell, on Mar. 9 2022. (Lee Erwin)
101st Commander, Major General JP McGee greets First Lady Dr. Jill Biden at Fort Campbell, on Mar. 9 2022. (Lee Erwin)
101st Airborne Division Command Sergeant Major, Veronica Knapp, greets First Lady Dr. Jill Biden at Fort Campbell, on Mar. 9 2022. (Lee Erwin)
First Lady Dr. Jill Biden arrives at Fort Campbell, on Mar. 9 2022. (Lee Erwin)
First Lady Dr. Jill Biden arrives at Fort Campbell, on Mar. 9 2022. (Lee Erwin)
First Lady Dr. Jill Biden speaks to military families during her visit to Fort Campbell, on Mar. 9 2022. (Lee Erwin).
First Lady Dr. Jill Biden speaks to military families during her visit to Fort Campbell, on Mar. 9 2022. (Lee Erwin).
Major General JP McGee, Commanding General of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) speaking at the visit of First Lady Dr. Jill Biden to Fort Campbell, on Mar. 9 2022. (Lee Erwin).
Military families gather to hear First Lady Dr. Jill Biden speak during her visit to Fort Campbell, on Mar. 9 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Military families gather to hear First Lady Dr. Jill Biden speak during her visit to Fort Campbell, on Mar. 9 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Military families listen as First Lady Dr. Jill Biden speaks during her visit to Fort Campbell, on Mar. 9 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Military families listen as First Lady Dr. Jill Biden speaks during her visit to Fort Campbell, on Mar. 9 2022. (Lee Erwin)
First Lady Dr. Jill Biden meets with military families during her visit to Fort Campbell, on Mar. 9 2022. (Lee Erwin).
First Lady Dr. Jill Biden meets with military families during her visit to Fort Campbell, on Mar. 9 2022. (Lee Erwin).
First Lady Dr. Jill Biden meets with military families during her visit to Fort Campbell, on Mar. 9 2022. (Lee Erwin).
First Lady Dr. Jill Biden meets with military families during her visit to Fort Campbell, on Mar. 9 2022. (Lee Erwin).
First Lady Dr. Jill Biden meets with military families during her visit to Fort Campbell, on Mar. 9 2022. (Lee Erwin).
First Lady Dr. Jill Biden meets with military families during her visit to Fort Campbell, on Mar. 9 2022. (Lee Erwin).
101st Commander, Major General JP McGee and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden meet with military families at Fort Campbell, on Mar. 9 2022. (Lee Erwin)
First Lady Dr. Jill Biden meets with military families during her visit to Fort Campbell, on Mar. 9 2022. (Lee Erwin).
First Lady Dr. Jill Biden meets with military families during her visit to Fort Campbell, on Mar. 9 2022. (Lee Erwin).
First Lady Dr. Jill Biden meets with military families during her visit to Fort Campbell, on Mar. 9 2022. (Lee Erwin).
Major General JP McGee and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden meet with military families during her visit to Fort Campbell, on Mar. 9 2022. (Lee Erwin).
First Lady Dr. Jill Biden meets with military families during her visit to Fort Campbell, on Mar. 9 2022. (Lee Erwin).
First Lady Dr. Jill Biden and Major General JP McGee meet with military families during her visit to Fort Campbell, on Mar. 9 2022. (Lee Erwin).
First Lady Dr. Jill Biden meets with military families during her visit to Fort Campbell, on Mar. 9 2022. (Lee Erwin).
101st Commander, Major General JP McGee and CSM Veronica Knapp along with guests prepare to meet First Lady Dr. Jill Biden as she arrives at Fort Campbell, on Mar. 9 2022. (Lee Erwin)

“There are moments that we realize history is being written right in front of us,” she said, adding that it would “divide our world before and after.

“This is one of those moments.”

She continued, “The president and I are so proud of you, the members of the 101st Airborne Division, who are helping keep our promise to NATO. We are holding Putin accountable for his war through diplomacy and crippling sanctions. We are providing Ukraine with economic, humanitarian and security assistance.”

Biden spoke with them about the difficulty of having a loved one go on a deployment, as she had done with her son Beau was deployed to Iraq, and she talked about how quickly the 101st deployment came about.

“You didn’t have time to say that lengthy goodbye,” she said. “And you answer the call with grit and resilience and grace. With consistency and courage. And I know that you’re strong, but I’m sure there are times when you say to yourself, I’m just tired of being strong. This is hard stuff.

“I know this community has a fierce bond. You love one another, it’s family,” she continued.

“And I want you to know that your commander-in-chief thinks about you every single day. Family is the love that grows in unexpected places. It’s the bond that we build through choice and chance.

“With all my heart I want to thank you for your sacrifice,” she said.

After prepared comments, Dr. Biden mingled with the crowd and had private conversations with the spouses and children.