First Lady Greets Local Military Personnel

Senior Airman Trisha Gresco of the 911th Airlift Wing said she was a little star-struck by her meeting Tuesday with first lady Michelle Obama. 

"She was very friendly, nice, super sweet, warm," said Gresco, of Moon Township, after her encounter with Obama at the township's 911th Airlift Wing. 

Gresco, along with other local military personnel and their families, met Obama as she stepped off Air Force One after it touched down this afternoon at the 911th.  

Gresco said she didn't mention plans to close the 911th in 2013 to the first lady, but she said Obama spotted her 2-year-old daughter's bright-red T-shirt and its "Save the 911th" slogan. 

"I didn't say anything to her (about plans to shutter the base)," Gresco said. "But she said that she hopes it will remain open and that she's praying for us." 

Obama arrived shortly after 3:30 p.m. at the air base, where she shook hands with service members from the 911th and neighboring 171st Refueling Wing. 

Obama also greeted the 911th's Senior Airman Domenic Mash of Aliquippa, his wife Katlyn and their infant daughter Savannah on the runway. In 2011, Mash received the Air Force Achievement Medal—awarded for outstanding achievement or meritorious service—following deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

The first lady is scheduled to attend two Democratic National Committee fundraisers Tuesday night in Pittsburgh. The White House said the Pittsburgh-area visit aims to commemorate the one-year anniversary of Joining Forces, an initiative launched by Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, to recognize veterans and military families. 

Protestors who oppose the 911th's closure waited outside the base's gates on Defense Avenue, using traffic signs to drape and hold homemade banners asking President Obama to keep it open.

The Air Force announced plans to close the 911th in February as a part of a plan to cut $8.7 billion from its 2013 budget. The closure will eliminate each of the base's more than 1,100 

What do you think of Michelle Obama's 911th Airlift Wing visit? Are you a fan of the first lady? Tell us in the comments.

This article first appeared on Moon Patch.