Maryland governor promises support for military caregivers

By Tashi McQueen
AFROC editor
[email protected]

Maryland Democratic Governor Wes Moore pledged on Aug. 6 to help more than 150,000 military and veteran caregivers across the state as part of the Hidden Heroes campaign, an initiative of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation.

The Elizabeth Dole Foundation is a nonprofit organization that supports military families. Their Hidden Heroes campaign raises awareness of the issues facing veterans and caregivers and brings military caregivers together.

“Last year, Governor Moore declared 2024 the Year of Military Families. Today, the Moore-Miller administration is taking further action to support our military families by becoming a Hidden Heroes state,” said Lt. Governor Aruna Miller during the announcement at the Maryland State House. “As such, we are committed to supporting caregivers who face the physical, emotional and financial challenges as they navigate our health care system and advocate for their loved ones in uniform.”

According to the governor's office, Maryland is participating in the “Hidden Heroes” campaign along with ten other states.

Moore said the partnership will help ensure that resources available to Maryland's veterans and families are distributed more quickly to those who need them.

“This is a military-heavy state, a veteran-heavy state,” Moore said. “We are deeply proud that this is a very military-friendly and, frankly, militarily progressive state. We care about our people.”

Moore added that it is important to support those who care for the soldiers.

“It is often the family that bears the brunt of this work,” Moore said.

More than 550,000 military personnel, veterans and families call Maryland home, according to a 2023 report by the newly named Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families.

The agency was formerly called the Maryland Department of Veteran Affairs.

“We are grateful that Maryland is part of this movement,” Moore said.