By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) pledged to assist more than 150,000 military and veteran caregivers around the state through the Hidden Heroes campaign, an initiative of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, on Aug. 6. 

Anthony Woods (left), secretary of the Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families; Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D); Maryland Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller (D); first lady Dawn Moore; and Steve Schwab, CEO of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, announce a new partnership that will make it easier for Maryland’s military families to access the resources they need.

Photo Credit: AFRO Photo/Tashi McQueen

The Elizabeth Dole Foundation is a non-profit organization that supports military families. Their Hidden Heroes campaign promotes awareness about the problems veterans and caregivers face and brings military caregivers together.

“Last year, Governor Moore declared 2024 to be the year of the military families. Today, the Moore-Miller administration takes further action to support our military families by becoming a Hidden Heroes state,” said Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller during the announcement at the Maryland State House. “As such, we are committed to supporting caregivers facing 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 joins 10 other states in the Hidden Heroes campaign.

Moore said the partnership will help make sure resources that are available to Maryland veterans and families are expedited to those who need them.

“This is a very military and veteran-heavy state,” said Moore. “We take a deep sense of pride that this is a very military friendly, and, frankly, military forward state. We take care of our own.” 

Moore added that it’s important to support those who help take care of servicemembers. 

“It’s the family that is oftentimes taking the brunt of this work,” said Moore.

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

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

“We’re thankful that Maryland is a part of this movement,” said Moore.

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