Washington, D.C. – For the first time in its storied history, the United States Marine Corps honored Blue Star Families as the Guest of Honor at the iconic Evening Parade at Marine Barracks Washington on Friday, May 30. The evening included a private reception hosted by Lieutenant General Stephen D. Sklenka, Deputy Commandant for Installations and Logistics, and culminated in the ceremonial parade featuring the Marine Band, the Drum & Bugle Corps, and the Silent Drill Platoon.
Kathy Roth-Douquet, CEO of Blue Star Families, delivered remarks at the reception, joined by military leaders, industry partners, and supporters from across the country. “This is more than a ceremonial moment — it’s a recognition of the military families who serve behind the scenes,” said Roth-Douquet. “We’re proud to stand with the Marine Corps to strengthen the force behind the force.”
The evening celebrated both the tradition of the Corps and the forward momentum of military family support as a national security priority. Roth-Douquet highlighted Blue Star Families’ expansion — including three upcoming Marine Corps-focused chapters in Camp Lejeune, New Orleans, and Hawaii — and acknowledged the critical partnerships that make the work possible.
Lt Gen Sklenka praised Roth-Douquet’s leadership and called Blue Star Families “a phenomenal organization” that has grown from a grassroots idea to the nation’s largest nonprofit dedicated to supporting military families. “I like to say, those of us who wear our nation’s cloth, we volunteer for this. Our spouses, whether they know it at the time or not, they’re volunteering as well … Kids, they’re drafted. Drafted in this thing … I think probably one of the most wonderful aspects of the organization, Kathy, is that you’ve made it, you brought on the point that military service is about more than those of us wearing uniforms. It really is the entire family.”
Full Remarks from Kathy Roth-Douquet:
Wonderful words, Steve, so well spoken. I’m grateful for your words about me. I’m thrilled to be here. So for me, this is in many ways a homecoming. I actually vividly remember, even before I met my husband, I was working on Capitol Hill, living in this neighborhood. The first time I came to the Marine Barracks’ parade, I was stunned by it. I was so impressed. It’s just an extraordinary thing.
So, for those of you for whom this is the first time, please raise your hand if it is. You’re in for an extraordinary treat. I am so grateful to Lieutenant General Sklenka for inviting me to this honor. Who would have thought all those years ago, back in the fog, the Future Operations Group would all be here together now like this? The Marine Corps is in many ways the reason why Blue Star families exists.
So, what is a blue star family? It’s a currently serving military family — active, Guard or Reserve, all ranks and services. The term reminds us that the total force relies on constant community support to thrive.
Blue Star Families began, technically, 16 years ago, as a grassroots all-volunteer group, a handful of military spouses across the country, and me at Parris Island, where Greg had command. But shortly after we launched, Greg deployed with one week’s notice to Afghanistan for a year. That moment underscored exactly why this work is necessary. But the roots of this organization were in many ways at New River Air Station, which was Greg’s first combat squadron command, where I saw firsthand how important the military mission is, and yet how very, very hard it is on the families in many cases. I have worked in government, the foundation world, the private sector, and I was a lawyer. I knew that we as a country could better engage the larger society to help families.
In order to do that, we needed to do that in a way that the families wanted and needed, not what someone else’s idea was to help us do that.
You know this: our families are key to national security.
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- We recruit the Marine but retain the family.
- The strength of the nation is the Corps, and
- The strength of the Corps is the Marine.
- And the strength of the Marine is their family.
- But who, who is the strength of the family?
It must be the community. And that’s our job at Blue Star Families — to activate the community so that the families, the core in the country, can have success. We at Blue Star Families, we succeeded beyond my wildest dreams or imagination. Steven is right about that. My original idea was a very small group, but we still have very far to go. Blue Star Families is today the largest organization in the nation supporting military and veteran families. We have almost 380,000 families in our membership nationwide, and we’re growing. A million and a half people use the programs each year. We have $30 million in annual revenue, and we’re growing. We have 13 chapters, but we’re growing to 24 chapters, including three planned U.S. Marine Corps-focused chapters that were chosen by the Commandant of the Marine Corps and the senior leadership last year. These will include Camp Lejeune, New Orleans, and Hawaii. That’s so exciting.
I brought with me today representatives from some of the extraordinary partners that made this possible, that made this growth possible. These are some of the most iconic brands and organizations in the nation. They love our community, and they are giving a great deal to support us all. CSX, the train company, is here. They support 10 of our chapters across the Eastern Seaboard.
Starbucks, who for over 10 years has helped us run coffee meetups at Starbucks and run a military appreciation campaign in the month of May. It’s not too late. Tomorrow, go on the app and you can take part. Disney has been our partner for over 14 years. They just did an amazing event with us in Hawaii with 500 families, free books, and met Stitch. It’s an amazing event.
JPMorgan Chase, whose commitment to us has skyrocketed recently with financial security, a big issue that matters. Two new partners, the Milken Institute, many of you may be familiar with Michael Milken, whose initiatives align with us. We’re thrilled to work with them. And our newest partner, Anduril, who does so much for the war fighter. They care about the families, too. We’re so happy to have them with us.
Also, the National Museum of American History is our wonderful partner, they’re here in the room. Staff from the British Embassy. We have a big announcement with them in the fall. I hope you join us. Our friends from the Jefferson Hotel and Board members are here, including Rachel Guetlein, the wife of General Guetlein of the Space Force, who is the new head of the Golden Dome initiative. Craig Newmark couldn’t be here. He’s the founder of Craigslist. His $25 million gift last year is what’s funding our chapter expansions. He sends his regards to all of you.
This honor here today, I feel it’s for all of the military families who serve behind the scenes. Thank you for seeing us and honoring us because you know and we know we’re all in this together. Thank you for helping us strengthen the force behind the force. It’s such a pleasure to be with you today.
Posted In: Press
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