WASHINGTON (Army News Service, July 30, 2010) -- The second lady of the United States has made her acting debut with a cameo appearance in an episode of Lifetime's "Army Wives," shown during a special screening at Fort Belvoir, Va., Thursday.
Hosted by Gen. George W. Casey Jr., chief of staff of the Army, and his wife Sheila, the screening featured the episode "Mud, Sweat and Tears," which is due to air Aug. 8 at 10 p.m.
In the episode, Dr. Jill Biden plays herself on a trip to visit the fictional Fort Marshall where she hosts a fun run and meets with members of the base's Gold Star Wives.
"In the last 18 months I've done a lot of things I never dreamed I would do or could do," Biden said, "but when I got the opportunity to create awareness of the lives of military members and their Families, it's something that I couldn't pass up."
Biden, who holds a position as an English professor at Northern Virginia Community College, in addition to her second lady duties, said the experience of filming was wonderful and the actors and actresses were "truly wonderful and supportive."
Sheila Casey introduced Biden and explained that in the episode Biden is playing herself in the role she and the vice president play all around the country visiting and listening to Soldiers and their families.
Casey said she has much in common with the second lady; both have sons who serve in the Army.
"She and I know firsthand of the triumphs and challenges of Soldiers and their Family members," Shelia Casey said, thanking Jill Biden for putting military Families in the spotlight.
Gen. Casey commended the TV show, saying that it was a realistic portrayal of Army life.
"I was very impressed with the commitment of the production crew and the cast to accurately replicate the challenges of Army families," he said.
The second lady said that she agreed to go on the show because she wants to do all she can to keep America thinking about those in the military. To that end she has started a national challenge with Michelle Obama to do small acts of kindness for military Families.
"I wish they [the American people] could see what Jill and I see as we go into Army hospitals or Thanksgiving dinners with Soldiers," explained Vice President Joseph Biden. "What absolutely blows me away is the continued sense of patriotism and the desire to serve, even with those who are mortally wounded."
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