First Lady Melania Trump visited Fort Rucker, the headquarters of U.S. Army Aviation, to honor the nation’s soldiers and the families who support them, the White House said Thursday.

“I want to take a moment to say thank you to one very important group of people: the families of America’s military,” Mrs. Trump said. “Your role is profound. While your loved ones are deployed, it’s up to you to keep your families strong, keep your children safe, and keep your homes full of love.”

“The sacrifices of military families don’t make the headlines, but you are the foundation for the world’s most capable military,” she said, according to her prepared remarks. With Thanksgiving a few weeks away, she asked Americans to “think of America’s service people and the families with an open seat at their Thanksgiving table.”

The first lady also spoke about the military’s duty to defend the Constitution. “Our soldiers are the best in the world, our equipment is elite, and our determination is second to none,” she said.

Mrs. Trump continued her visit at Ellis D. Parker Elementary School, where she spent time with kindergarten and first-grade students and recognized teachers who bring technology into their lessons, a focus of her Fostering the Future initiative, according to the White House.