Here is a News 6 mashup of top stories for the week of Oct. 11, 2021, straight from AWN News 6 Correspondent, Jolene McNutt:

First Lady Releases Report With Goals to Help Military Families

First Lady, Dr. Jill Biden is leading an initiative to help military spouse employment. Joining Forces is a program from the White House designed to support families of service members, veterans, caregivers, and survivors. Dr. Biden released a new report: Strengthening America’s Military Families. She states, “Through Joining Forces, the White House is committed to supporting the military and veteran communities through economic and entrepreneurship opportunities for military spouses, including access to affordable, quality child care; support for military-connected children in the classroom; and health and well-being resources.”

The Joining Forces report outlines the number of military spouses and family members currently in the United States. It shared that military families face the same stress as other American working families, plus additional stress, which it highlighted. The report shared the top concerns facing military families are deployments; frequent moves; caregiving for wounded, ill, and injured service members; separations caused by training or hardship duties; and housing cost increases coupled with a congressionally-approved reduction in Basic Allowance for Housing.

The report goes on to outline the initiatives that the White House is focusing on to address many of these issues. One of the areas is to reduce military spouse unemployment. Their goal: “Ensure that the federal government is an employer of choice for military spouses.”

Most Americans Support Resettlement of Afghan Refugees

A recent poll found most Americans support the resettlement of Afghan refugees, reported AP News. “The survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds 72% of Americans say they favor the U.S. granting refugee status to people who worked with the U.S. or Afghan governments during the war in Afghanistan, if they pass security checks.”

Refugee resettlement organizations have found that the poll reflects the support they have been receiving from volunteers in areas where Afghans are being resettled. AP News shared that “Oklahoma farmers and ranchers have even volunteered to donate a few acres for the Afghan families to homestead.”

“Those people stuck their neck out knowing, or maybe not knowing, that they could be killed by the Taliban,” Bill Cronin, a 74-year-old retiree and Republican in the San Francisco Bay area said. “So why would you not want to take care of those people?”

First All-Women Team Guard Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

For the first time in history, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery was guarded by an all-woman team, reported Task & Purpose.

“History was made . . . For the first time in the 84-year vigil, on the 30,770th day of the continuous guard, an all woman changing of the guard occurred,” said Col. Patrick Roddy, commander of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (Old Guard). Soldiers have been guarding the tomb for 24 hours a day, seven days a week since 1937.

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was guarded by an all-woman team for the first time ever

This Week in History

On Oct. 12, 1810, the first Oktoberfest was held to celebrate the marriage between the crown prince of Bavaria, who later became King Louis I, to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. The festival has evolved over the years. Now, Munich brewers build temporary structures of plywood with interior balconies and bandstands. Some of the beer halls seat up to 6,000 people! “The mayor of Munich taps the first keg to open the festival.” According to britannica.com, about 2 million gallons of beer are consumed during the two week festival.

Although Oktoberfest in Munich ends in early October, you might still find celebrations near you. Listen to a favorite polka or turn up a rendition of Ein Prosit, find a big pretzel, grab your favorite beer, and experience a little Bavarian gemütlichkeit—friendliness and cheer! If Oktoberfest has passed by you, that’s okay, check out a little Oktoberfest inspiration below! Prost!

Live Glockenspiel at Milwaukee’s Germanfest

Photos by Cheriss May and Sgt. Erica Vinyard, U.S. Army