Remarks by the First Lady at a Campaign Event

Three Rivers Club, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

5:03 P.M. EDT

        MRS. OBAMA:  Wow.  Yes!  (Applause.)  Pittsburgh!  Now let me tell you -- (applause) -- I have to say, every time we come around -- or come through it, and we -- you step out into this magnificent city, it just takes your breath away.  And today was no exception.  This is a beautiful day in this glorious city, and it is such a pleasure and an honor to be here with all of you.  Thank you so much.

        AUDIENCE MEMBER:  We love you, Michelle.

        MRS. OBAMA:  Love you guys.  Love you guys.  (Applause.)

        I want to start by thanking Betsy for that very kind and right-on-point introduction and for her outstanding work.  Thank you so much, Betsy.  (Applause.)  Yay for Betsy!  (Applause.)

        And I know that they had to leave early to make it to our next event, but I also want to recognize County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and Mayor Ravenstahl, who were here.  I want to thank them for their leadership and for their service.  I also want to acknowledge the state party chair, Jim Burn, and I want to thank him for his terrific work.  Thank you, Jim.  

        And I want to give a good-old shoutout to Cliff and to Lazar for -- and to the entire Host Committee -- (applause) -- all of you for making this such a successful event.  Thank you guys so much.

        And finally, I want to thank all of you.  I want to thank you for your support.  I want to thank you for your love, for your prayers.  Thank you for being here today.

        And I know that there’s a reason that you're all here, and it's not just to see me -- while I'm happy that you're here.  We're here because we all know that next November we’re going to make a choice that will impact our lives for decades to come.  We know this.  You're here because you know that choice will not just affect all of us in this room, but it's going to affect our children, it's going to affect our grandchildren, and it's going to impact the world we leave for them long after we’re gone.  And trust me, that is why I'm here today as well, and that's why I am going to be campaigning like nobody's business all over this country for the next six and a half months.  (Applause.)

        One of the great things I've had the privilege of doing as First Lady is traveling across our magnificent country, meeting folks from all different backgrounds and hearing what’s going on in their daily lives.  And every day, I hear about how people are working to try to keep it together.  Everyone, struggling to make ends meet; how they're trying to pay the bills; about the businesses they’re trying to keep afloat; about the home they love but are struggling to afford.

        But no matter what they’re going through, no matter what the challenges they face, they keep on working and sacrificing because they desperately want something better for their kids.  That's what we all do.  We're all here for our kids.  Folks across America believe in the fundamental vision for our economy that we all share -- the idea, as your President says, that hard work should pay off, that responsibility should be rewarded -- things we teach our kids -- that everyone should get a fair shot, do their fair share, play by the same rules.

        See, those values are the foundation for an economy built to last.  And more importantly, they're basic American values, the values -- yes -- that so many of us were raised with, including myself.

        You guys know my story by now.  My father was a blue-collar city worker; worked all his life at the city water plant.  My father lived -- my family, we lived in a little-bitty apartment on the South Side of Chicago.  It's the home my mother still occupies when she goes back to Chicago.

        AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Yeah, Chicago!

        MRS. OBAMA:  My room is exactly the same as it was.  (Laughter.)  Same pillows, same pictures -- hasn't changed a thing.  And neither of my parents had the opportunity to attend college.  But let me tell you what my folks did do -- they saved everything they had, they sacrificed everything because they wanted something more for me and my brother.

        And more than anything else, truly that is what’s at stake.  That's what we're fighting for -- that fundamental promise that no matter who you are, or how you started out, if you work hard -- right, kids? -- if you work hard, you can build a decent life for yourself and, yes, an even better life for your kids.  And let me tell you, on just about every issue, that is the choice we face.

        Since today is tax day -- (laughter) -- sorry to remind you -- let’s start with those tax cuts my husband passed for working-class families.  (Applause.)  See, we have to remember that those cuts, that’s about whether people can heat their homes.  That's what's at stake.  It's about whether they can send their kids to college, whether they can retire with dignity and security.  It’s about putting more money in the people’s pockets, which means more money in our economy, which means more jobs.  And it’s about making sure that everyone pays their fair share.  (Applause.)  That’s why my husband proposed the Buffett Rule -- to close tax loopholes so that millionaires and billionaires aren’t paying lower taxes than firefighters and teachers.  (Applause.)  But that’s what’s at stake.  See, those are the choices we're facing.

        And how about everything that my husband has been doing to create jobs?  I mean, let's just think back, when all those folks in Washington were telling Barack to let the auto industry go under -- remember that? -- with more than a million jobs on the line.  They just said, let it go.  See, but Barack Obama didn't listen; he had the backs of American workers.  He put his faith in the American people.  And as a result, today, the auto industry is back on its feet, and more importantly, people are back at work providing for their families.  Think about that.

        Think about when Barack first took office:  We were losing an average -- on average 750,000 jobs every single month.  That's what he inherited.  Those are the facts.  But for the past 25 straight months, we’ve actually been gaining private sector jobs -– a total of more than 4 million jobs in just two years.  Those are the facts.  (Applause.)

        So while we know we have a long way to go to rebuild our economy, we have more work to do, millions of folks today are collecting a paycheck again.  And that is what’s at stake in this election.  That’s the choice we face.

        And what about all that this administration has done for our small businesses –- these are the companies that create two-thirds of all new jobs in this economy every year.  I’m talking about the mom who opens up a drycleaners to help provide for her kids.  That’s who we’re talking about.  The family that’s been running that neighborhood diner -- I know you’ve got some of that here, some Pam’s, yes, pancakes for generations -- those are who we’re talking about.  (Laughter.)

        See, for folks like these, the small business tax cuts this administration has passed mean the difference between those kind of businesses hiring new employees or handing out pink slips.  It’s about whether they can keep their doors open, remain vibrant in their community, or close their doors for good.  That’s the choice we face.  And we cannot forget that.

        And as Betsy said, we cannot forget the very first bill my husband signed into law -- the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act to help women get equal pay for equal work.  (Applause.)  I mention that everywhere we go because Barack did it because he knows what it means when women aren’t treated fairly in the workplace.  For him, it’s not hypothetical.  As Betsy said, he watched his own grandmother –- a woman with a high school education -– work her way up to become a vice president at a little community bank.  And she was good at what she did.  She worked hard.  But like too many women, she hit that glass ceiling and watched men no more qualified than she was -– men she had actually trained -– be promoted up the ladder instead of her.  How many stories are there like that?

        So for Barack, this issue is not abstract.  He signed this bill because he knows that closing that pay gap can mean the difference between women losing $50, $100, $500 each paycheck, or having that money in their pockets to buy gas and groceries and to put clothes on the backs of their kids.  He did it because when so many women are breadwinners for our families, women’s success in this economy is the key to families’ success in this economy.  That’s the truth.  (Applause.)  We are only as strong as our women.  And he did it because, as he put it, he believes that here in America, there are no second-class citizens in our workplace.  That’s what’s at stake.  That’s what we’re fighting for.  (Applause.)

        And let’s go back to health care.  Two years ago, we all, together, made history by finally passing health reform -- something no other President was able to do.  (Applause.)  And because we passed this law, as Betsy said, insurance companies now have to cover basic preventative care like mammograms, prenatal care, and to do it at no extra cost.  Insurance companies can no longer deny our children coverage because they have preexisting conditions -- maybe diabetes, maybe asthma.  

        Because of this reform, kids can now stay on their parent’s insurance until they’re 26 years old.  And we know what this means -- (applause) -- when our young people graduate from college, as a result, they don’t have to go without health care right in the middle of trying to look for a job and build a career and build a family.  And today, that’s how 2.5 million of our young people in this country are getting their coverage today.  (Applause.)

        And it’s also important to remember that since that law was passed, millions of our senior citizens have saved an average of more than $600 a year on their prescription drugs.  So we have to ask ourselves, are we going to take that savings away?  Is that who we are?  Are we going to allow insurance companies to refuse coverage for our children?

        AUDIENCE:  No!

        MRS. OBAMA:  Or will we say that here in America, no one should ever have to choose between going bankrupt or watching their child suffer because they can’t afford a doctor.  But that’s the choice that we face.  

        And think, for a moment, about all that we’re doing to give our kids a good education.  Think about the investments we’ve made to raise standards and reform our public schools.  Think about how my husband has been fighting for the DREAM Act so that talented, hardworking young people who were brought here to this country through no fault of their own can have a chance to earn their citizenship.  This is about responsible young men and women -- (applause) -- they want to go to college, they want to defend our country, they want to contribute to our economy.  It is time that we gave them that chance.  It’s time.

        And I want you to think about how my husband took billions of dollars in taxpayer money that used to go to middleman banks and lenders, and he sent that money where it belongs -- to help millions of our young people go to college.  (Applause.)  And understand that these kind of investments won’t just determine our children’s success -- they’re going to determine nothing less than the success of our entire economy.

        These investments will determine whether we’re prepared to make the discoveries and to build the industries that will allow us to compete with any country, anywhere in the world.  That’s what’s at stake.

        And let’s not forget about my husband’s appointment of those two brilliant Supreme Court justices -- (applause) -- and how for the first time in history, our daughters and our sons watched three women take their seat on our nation’s highest court.  (Applause.)  And let’s not forget the impact that Court’s decisions will have on our lives for decades to come -- on our privacy and security, on whether we can speak freely, worship openly, and yes, love whomever we choose.  (Applause.)  That’s what’s at stake.  That’s the choice we face.

        And finally, let’s not forget all this administration has done to keep our country safe and restore our standing in the world.  (Applause.)  Thanks to our brave men and women in uniform, we finally brought to justice the man behind the 9/11 attacks and so many other horrific acts of terror.  That’s a fact.  My husband kept his promise -- he ended the war in Iraq and brought our troops home for the holidays.  (Applause.)  And more importantly, now that they’re home we are working hard to make sure that we give our troops, veterans, and their families the benefits they’ve earned.  (Applause.)

        And finally, because my husband ended “don’t ask, don’t tell,” our troops will never again have to lie about who they are to serve the country they love.  (Applause.)  That’s what’s at stake.

        And I could go on.  I could.  (Laughter.)  There’s a lot that’s happened in three years -- a lot of good stuff.  It’s a wonderful story that we can tell about our country’s growth.  So make no mistake about it, whether it’s health care or the economy, whether it’s education or foreign policy, the choice we make in this election will determine nothing less than who we are as a country, and more importantly, who do we want to be.  Who are we?

        Will we be a country where opportunity is limited to just the few at the top?  Who are we?  Or will we be a place where if you work hard, you can get ahead, no matter who you are or how you started out?  We have to ask ourselves, who are we?  Who do we want to be?

        Are we going to tell folks who’ve done everything right -- they've hit on hard times, may be struggling just a little bit -- are we going to tell our neighbors, “tough luck, you’re on your own”?  Who are we?  Or will we honor that fundamental American belief that we’re all in it together, and this country is strongest when we’re all better off?  (Applause.)  Who do we want to be?  Will we continue all the change we’ve begun and the progress we’ve made?  Or will we allow everything we’ve worked for so hard to just slip away?  But believe me, those are the choices -- plain and simple.  Those are the stakes.

        And believe me, Barack knows this better than anyone else.  He understands these issues because he’s lived them.  This isn’t a game.  He was raised by a single-parent mother who struggled to put herself through school and pay the bills.  He watched her struggle.  And when she needed help, who stepped up?  His grandmother stepped up, waking every morning before dawn to get on that bus to that job at the bank.  And even though she was passed over again and again for all those promotions, she never complained.  How many people in our lives do we know like that?  She never complained.  She just kept showing up, just kept doing her best.  

        So believe me, Barack knows what it means when a family struggles.  He knows what it means when someone doesn’t have a chance to fulfill their potential -- how much that hurts.  Because those are the experiences that have made him the man, and more importantly, the President he is today.  And we are blessed to have him.  (Applause.)

        And that’s what I hear in his voice when he returns home after a long day traveling, and he tells me about the people that he’s met.  That’s what I see in those quiet moments when he’s up at night, long after the girls have gone to bed, and he’s poring over the letters that he gets from so many people.  
        The letter from the woman dying of cancer whose insurance company won’t cover her care.  The letter from the father still struggling to pay his family’s bills.  The letter from too many young people with so much promise, but so few opportunities.  And I hear the passion and the determination in his voice.  He says, “Michelle, you won’t believe what folks in this country are still going through.”  He says, “It’s not right.  We’ve got to fix it.  We have so much more work to do.”

        See, because what you need to know about your President is that when it comes to the people he meets, Barack has a memory like a steel trap.  He may not remember your name, but if he’s had a few minutes with you and a decent conversation, he will never forget your story.  It becomes imprinted in his heart.  And that is what he carries with him every single day.  He’s not worried about himself.  He is working for our struggles, our hopes, our dreams.  That is where Barack gets his passion.  That’s where he gets his toughness and his fight.

        And that’s why, even in the hardest moments -- and there have been many -- and it seems like all is lost, Barack Obama never loses sight of the end goal.  Like his grandmother, he never lets himself get distracted by the chatter and the noise.  
        He just keeps moving forward.  Because, see, he can see the end goal; he has a vision for this country.  And that’s the kind of President we need -- someone with a vision.  Someone with a focus.  (Applause.)  Someone who knows where he wants this country to go.

        But let me tell you something, Barack Obama cannot do this alone.  That was never the promise.  He needs you.  He needs you to keep doing what you’re doing.  Make those calls.  Register those voters.  He needs you out there grabbing those “I’m In” cards -- sign yourself up, sign your neighbors up, shake them up.  Sign them up.  Tell them to -- they need to give just a little part of themselves to this campaign each and every week.  That’s all it takes.  Because we all know that this is not just about one extraordinary man -- while I admit, I think my husband is awesome.  (Laughter and applause.)  That’s why I’m in this.  Not just as a husband, but as a man, as a President, I think he’s amazing.  

        But it has never been about him.  It has really always been about us -- about all of us coming together for the values we believe in and for the country we want to be.

        Now, I’m not going to kid you -- because I never do -- this journey, this next phase, it is going to be long.  It is going to be hard.  And there will be so many twists and turns along the way.  But what I need you to remember is, the truth is, that’s how change always happens.  That’s how real change in this country always happens.  It’s always slow, and it never happens all at once.  

        But if we keep showing up, if we keep fighting the good fight, if we keep doing what we know in our hearts is right and fair and just, then eventually we’ll get there -- we always do.
        We have never moved backwards -- not in my lifetime.  But maybe we won’t see this change in our lifetimes; maybe we have to be content with seeing it in our children and grandchildren’s lifetimes.  In the end, we have to remember that’s what this is all about.  

        This is not about us.  In the end, we are fighting these battles not for ourselves; we are fighting them for our sons and daughters.  We are fighting them for our grandsons and our granddaughters.  Like so many people who came before us, who made sacrifices, not because it would help them today but it would help us -- we stand here because of them.  And we’re fighting for the world we want to leave for our children.

        That’s what brings me passion.  See, because I love my children and I love our children.  That is what’s at stake.  That’s what we’re facing.

        So we need you all to get moving.  We really do.  It is time for us to get to work.  Right?  (Applause.)

        AUDIENCE:  Right!

        MRS. OBAMA:  So I’ve got one last question for you:  Are you in?  

        AUDIENCE:  Yes!

        MRS. OBAMA:  No, no, are you really in?  Are you ready for this long haul?  Are you ready to roll up your sleeves?  Are you ready to make those calls?  Are you ready to shake up some neighbors who aren’t clear, who don’t understand what’s at stake?  It’s going to be up to each and every one of you to tell the story.  Barack and I can’t do it.  It’s just impossible for us to call every American.  But you can -- you can call everyone you know.  Find out who’s not going to vote, who’s a little tired, who’s not registered, what young people aren’t focused.  Find them and shake them up.  Because this is about their world.  They have to be ready to be engaged.  

        So I hope you all are fired up, because I certainly am.  I’m in this like nothing else.  I’m going to work hard to make sure that we leave our kids the kind of country we can be proud of.

        So I look forward to you all getting out there, working hard.  (Applause.)  We can do this.  

        Thank you all so much.  God bless.  (Applause.)

END 5:26 P.M EDT

Remarks by the First Lady Honoring Young Women from Military Families

Jacksonville Naval Air Station
Jacksonville, Florida

6:08 P.M. EDT

MRS. OBAMA: Oh! (Applause.) How are you guys doing? (Applause.) You guys sit down. Rest yourselves. Are you having fun? (Applause.) There is more fun to come. I am thrilled -- thrilled -- to be here.

I want to start by thanking Maddie for her poise and for introducing me not once, but twice. (Applause.) Well done, Maddie. She is amazing. She's terrific. Very proud of her, so let's give her another round of applause. (Applause.)

A few other people that I want to thank. I want to thank Representative Corrine Brown, who's here, and Mayor Alvin Brown, who are here to -- joining us today. Thank you both for your leadership and being here with us.

I also want to take a moment to recognize all of the extraordinary men and women in uniform who are here today. You're amazing -- and your amazing spouses. Yay for the spouses. Thank you for the service that you've given. Thank you for the sacrifices that you've made. You all are the very best this country has to offer, and I am thrilled that you could join us here today.

And finally, I want to thank our guests of honor, these amazing, beautiful, well-dressed, well-put-together young women we are celebrating here today. (Applause.) And on behalf of myself and my husband, I want to tell you all truly how proud we are of you. We are so proud of you. We are inspired by you, and we are grateful for everything that you do for this country every single day. That’s why we wanted to have you here.

You see, when we talk about how our men and women in uniform sacrifice so much and serve this country so bravely, we’re not just talking about your parents. We are not. We are talking about all of you. We’re talking about our military kids and our military families, because we know that when your parents are called to serve, you all serve right alongside them.

When your parents get that call to pick up and move halfway across the country, you pick up and move right alongside them. And then, just when you finally get settled in, just when you’re feeling comfortable and make friends and start fitting in, what happens? That call comes again, right? And you have to start all over again and make new friends, and settle in, yet again.

And I know that couldn’t be easy. That can't possibly be easy for you. And I know it's even harder when your parents are deployed, and you have to keep your spirits up through all those missed holidays, and missed birthdays, and times when you would give anything in the world to have them back home.

And I know that some of you here will be -- for you, there will be an empty seat at graduation -- I know this. And for some of you, when it comes time for the prom, mom might not be there to help you pick out your dress. Dad might not be there to see you out on your date. And I know that that can't possibly be easy either.

But here’s something else that I know: Through it all –- through all the moves that you've had to make, through all those difficult moments, you all have stayed strong. I have seen it. I've seen it in so many kids like you across this country. You all have risen to the challenge.

You’ve become leaders in your schools. You're excelling in your classes. You're getting involved in all kinds of activities. You’ve become leaders in your communities, finding all kinds of ways to volunteer and give back. And many of you have stepped up at home as well, juggling activities and homework with chores and housework.

Many of you have had to put on a brave face for maybe a younger brother or sister, even when you were worried. You’ve had to reassure your parents that you were okay, even when sometimes you weren’t.

And you’ve done all of this because ultimately, you understand that your parents are part of something far bigger than themselves. You know that they protect and defend the freedoms that every single one of us holds dear. You know that their service keeps this country safe every single day. And you all are a vital part of that work. You truly are.

By working so hard at school and at home, and doing your part, you give your parents the peace of mind they need to focus on their mission. With your service, you make their service possible. And for that, we can't thank you enough. We cannot thank you enough.

Now, I know that many of you have never known anything else, right? This is your life. So for you, this is no big deal, maybe. Maybe you think it's nothing special, because this is just how you've grown up.

But I am here today -- we are all here today, and we're doing all of this today -- because you should know that this is a big deal. You are special. You all have lived lives that make you incredibly special young individuals.

As military kids, you have learned lessons and had experiences that many people don’t have in their entire lifetimes. You’ve immersed yourselves in all kinds of communities and cultures. You’ve made friends with people from all different backgrounds. And you’ve gained the wisdom and the perspective to appreciate what really matters in life.

You see, unlike a lot of young people, you all don’t take your families for granted, right? A lot of times, you have to work to stay connected to your families -- maybe through Skype. It's a lot of hard work making the most of those precious weeks of leave, saying the things that we don’t nearly say enough to the people we love –- things like “I’m so proud of you," “I don’t know what I’d do without you," “I love you more than you will ever know.”

And that’s something that always strikes me about our military families –- how dealing with the challenges of military life actually strengthens your family bonds, rather than weakening them; how spending time apart oftentimes actually brings you closer together. And all of that is part of who you are. And you should know that.

And as you get older, you will see that growing up in a military family has prepared you for life in a way that nothing else can. Because that’s really what life is about –- it’s about weathering all sorts of changes and transitions, and bumps and bruises. But it’s also about savoring the good times, right? Treasuring the people that we love and appreciating the many blessings that come with living in this great country of ours. That’s what all of you do every day.

Like your parents, you all are the very best this country has to offer. You’re role models not just for kids, but for adults and for all Americans who want to see what patriotism, sacrifice and service really looks like. That’s why we're here.

So I want to thank you all for everything that you do. I want to once again thank your parents for their service to our country.

And now -- here's where the fun begins -- I would like to announce that we have a special surprise guest who is about to join us. She is someone that I am proud to call a friend. She's a tremendous supporter and admirer of veterans and military families. And she's so amazed by your service that she's going to put you all on national TV right now.

So are you ready?

AUDIENCE: Yes! (Applause.)

MRS. OBAMA: So joining us live from the set of her TV show, I'm proud to introduce the one and only Ellen DeGeneres. (Applause.)

MS. DEGENERES: Hi, everybody!

MRS. OBAMA: They're screaming.

MS. DEGENERES: Hello, Mrs. Obama!

MRS. OBAMA: Hey, Ellen.

MS. DEGENERES: We're screaming here too! (Applause.)

MRS. OBAMA: What's going on?

MS. DEGENERES: I hope I'm not interrupting anything.

MRS. OBAMA: No, we're good. We're just -- good to have you here.

MS. DEGENERES: Good to be there. Congratulations on Joining Forces' one-year anniversary. Tell everybody what it's about, please.

MRS. OBAMA: Well, Joining Forces is our national initiative to make sure that all Americans honor our troops, veterans and families. This is the one-year anniversary. We've made some amazing strides, and we're here with some great military kids to give them a special thank you.

MS. DEGENERES: And that’s why I'm there, too, to give them a special thank you. You've accomplished so much already. What do you hope to accomplish this year?

MRS. OBAMA: Well, we want to do more. We want to make sure that every American does something. We're saying -- our motto is everyone can do something. It can be something as big as having you on your show, but it can also be helping mow the lawn; it can be doing what you do best, but doing it on behalf of a military family -- finding those families within your communities and reaching out to find out what they need.

So we want more of that to go on across this country.

MS. DEGENERES: So that is what you'd say if you -- if somebody says how can I help, it's all the little things. Just call up and say, what can I offer, what's my specialty?

MRS. OBAMA: Yes. And people can go to our website, joiningforces.gov. And we've got thousands of wonderful ideas, suggestions, things that are going on in communities all across this country. That’s a good place to start.

MS. DEGENERES: Great. Great. Now, Mrs. Obama, before we go any further, I think it's time we talk about the push-up situation. (Laughter.)

MRS. OBAMA: You're still bothered by that, huh?

MS. DEGENERES: Oh! (Laughter.)

MRS. OBAMA: Still feeling the wounds of defeat. (Laughter.)

MS. DEGENERES: Let's just make sure that everyone sees what we're talking about here. You were here in February, we had a competition to see who could do the most push-ups. I did 20, and you did 25. (Laughter.) Now, let's just watch the video for a second and then we'll comment.

Anything you'd like to say?

MRS. OBAMA: I could have done 35. I stopped because I felt bad for you. (Laughter and applause.)

MS. DEGENERES: I bet you could have. I actually bet you could have.

All right, we have to take a break. And we'll be back with the First Lady, Michelle Obama, and we have a surprise for a few lucky people there. We'll be right back. I'm going to do some push-ups. (Applause.)

MS. DEGENERES: Oh! I'm exhausted. I just did 53 push-ups. (Laughter and applause.)
 
We're back with the First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama. She's in Jacksonville, Florida right now with military families. (Applause.) Mrs. Obama?

MRS. OBAMA: Yes! (Applause.)

MS. DEGENERES: Mrs. Obama, tell me who you're sitting with right now.

MRS. OBAMA: Oh man, we've got some great, beautiful young ladies. They're just gorgeous. You want me to pass the mic? You want to hear from them? You want to hear who's here?

MS. DEGENERES: Sure, let me meet them.

MRS. OBAMA: All right, we've got --

Q Hi, I’m Rachel.

MS. DEGENERES: Hi, Rachel. You excited to be there today?

Q Oh, I'm extremely excited to be here. I'm so honored. I'm here with all my classmates and my family members as well.

MS. DEGENERES: Well, it's so nice to meet you Rachel. Who are you sitting next to?

Q I'm sitting next to --

Q Hey! My name's Kianna. (Laughter.)

MS. DEGENERES: Hey, Kianna! (Applause.) Hey Kianna, I love your energy. And your mom is serving overseas right now, right?

Q Yes, she is.

MS. DEGENERES: And how do you stay in touch?

Q My mom calls our house a few times a week, and I always enjoy whenever she calls the house. I love hearing her voice, but it reminds me of her background.

MS. DEGENERES: I bet, I bet. And you're sitting next to?

Q Hi Ellen. My name is Elise.

MS. DEGENERES: Hi Elise, how are you?

Q I'm good. How are you?

MS. DEGENERES: And your dad is a Navy vet? I'm fantastic, thank you. Your dad is a Navy veteran. What is the best thing about being a military kid?

Q I really think that it teaches you a lot of good characteristics and to have a lot of strength and courage. Because it's really not easy when you have a family member out in deployment.

MS. DEGENERES: I know, it certainly is not easy, and that’s why you get so much love and support from all of us. We admire your strength and everything that your parents are doing for us. (Applause.)

So my question is, it's almost prom. You're looking forward to that, I bet, right?

Q Yes. Definitely.

MS. DEGENERES: Now, Mrs. Obama, I don’t think I've ever shown you my prom picture. I just wanted to -- I want to show you my prom picture first. (Laughter and applause.)

MRS. OBAMA: That is an excellent picture. Love the dress. Love the dress.

MS. DEGENERES: Thank you very much. That was a tablecloth at one point. (Laughter.) Now, I heard you have a good one too, so I thought I would share yours. (Laughter.)

MRS. OBAMA: That split was a little high. I don’t know if I'd let my kids go out with a split that high, so let's not show this to Malia and Sasha.

MS. DEGENERES: All right. Were you shopping at Pier One or something? (Laughter.)

MRS. OBAMA: You've never done the wicker chair shot? That’s standard.

MS. DEGENERES: No, I've seen the wicker chairs before but -- I didn’t know it was standard.

All right. Well, listen, JC Penny knows that you guys are getting ready for prom. They're a one-stop shop for all your prom needs. They have dresses, shoes, accessories -- even a salon -- all at great prices. So they're giving all three of you a $250 JC Penny giftcard. (Applause.)

And I know there are 300 other students there with you all for the event today who need to get ready for the prom as well. So all of you students who are there in Florida with Mrs. Obama are also getting a $250 JC Penny giftcard. (Applause.)

Thank you so much for your time today, Mrs. Obama. You know I admire you, I think you're an amazing, amazing woman. Thank you for all that you're doing. We're going to put something up on our website if anyone wants to get involved with Joining Forces. And we send our love and our support to all of you there. Thank you so much for all you do. And thank you, again, Mrs. Obama, for your time.

MRS. OBAMA: Thank you, Ellen. We love you. This is amazing. (Applause.) Thank you.

MS. DEGENERES: Love you, too. We'll be right back.

END
6:30 P.M. EDT