The First Lady, Dr. Biden, and Ben Folds Celebrate Military-Connected Moms

To celebrate Military Spouse Appreciation Day and an early Mother's Day, the First Lady and Dr. Biden invited military-connected moms to the White House for their annual Mother’s Day Tea.

These mothers, grandmothers, and their guests enjoyed sandwiches, cupcakes, and shortbreads with a selection of teas and juices. Kids came too to make Mother’s Day gifts of petal potpourri, lace-topped cupcakes, and even potted-flower cakes.

The First Lady and Dr. Biden greeted the spouses, thanked all military-connected moms, and recognized their service.

"You all are moving from state to state every couple of years, starting new jobs and putting the kids in a new school, and trying to adjust to all that, and figure out -- build a new community for yourselves over and over again," the First Lady said.

"You’ve been separated from your loved ones, whether you’ve been deployed yourself or you’ve had someone overseas. Yet through it all, you all somehow find time to reach out to others in your neighborhood."

Active-duty service members, Blue Star Mothers, Gold Star Mothers and Spouses, and military spouses filled the Blue Room where singer/songwriter Ben Folds ended the afternoon with a beautiful rendition of his song, "The Luckiest."

First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden join children for a craft project in the State Dining Room prior to hosting their annual Joining Forces initiative Mother’s Day tea to honor military-connected mothers, May 8, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)