Second lady Karen Pence was the keynote speaker at the Joint Military Spouses Conference at the Blaisdell Center Expo Hall this afternoon.

“The strength of our nation doesn’t just come from the people in uniform who fight to protect our freedoms. The spouses and families, who serve alongside them, also make tremendous sacrifices to the greater benefit of our country,” Pence said at her luncheon speech. “Military spouses are selfless heroes who work tirelessly to keep everything in order. Many of you have had to uproot your lives; give up your personal and professional aspirations and restart a career. I admire your steadfast devotion to your spouses and our nation.”

Pence was accompanied by Hollyanne Milley, wife of the Army’s chief of staff, Gen. Mark Milley, who visited with military spouses and received an overview of the conference’s workshops.

The 2017 conference, organized by a nonprofit designed to bring the talents of military spouses together, offers a variety of workshops at the conference during the day, along with Pence as the keynote speaker, a marketplace of local businesses and sponsors, followed by a reception. This year’s conference theme was “Stronger Together.”

Vice President Mike Pence, accompanied by his wife, dined with about 120 service members at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam during an abbreviated stopover in the islands after a week-long trip to Asia and Australia in April.

The conference is open to any spouse with a valid military I.D. card of any status or branch of service. The registration fee to attend is $75. Visit jschawaii.com to learn more.