Jill Biden thanked the children of military parents at a Newport News elementary school for their sacrifices.

The vice president's wife spoke at Lee Hall Elementary School on Wednesday. About 42 percent of the school's students have a primary caregiver who is in the military.

Adm. James A. Winnefeld Jr., vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, also addressed about 200 parents and students at the school.

Biden highlighted an ODU education partnership with Newport News Public Schools. Funded by a three-year, $2.5 million federal grant, it aims to boost academic achievement and address the social and emotional challenges that children of service members face from deployments and other issues.

It's part of the national Joining Forces initiative, created by Biden and Michelle Obama to support military families.