The first lady continues on her mission to help military families by visiting Camp Pendleton in California. Michelle Obama met with wounded Marines and spoke before troops and their families on Sunday, according to a feature by the Associated Press.

The first lady said that she is challenging every American to come up with ways to ease the burden carried by the men and women who are fighting wars for the United States. She honored five Camp Pendleton Marines who were killed in Afghanistan last week. She shared her reason for visiting Camp Pendleton: “To help the rest of our country better understand and appreciate the incredible service of you and your families, and to make sure your voices are heard back in Washington and that your needs are met.”

For the 2011 budget, President Barack Obama is proposing the allocation of additional funds for counseling, support services and military child care. The justification provided for the additional spending for military families was that their welfare was an integral part of national security.

Mrs. Obama heaped praise on the Fallbrook Chamber of Commerce for having a program that provides Marines with a chance to receive a wedding package for free. She also gave special mention to the celebration of an Appreciation Day for troops in Oceanside, and cited that cities in the area adopt Marine units and send care packages to troops. She said further: “I want the whole country to be inspired by what is happening here in Southern California.”