By D. Kevin McNeir
Special to the AFRO
As Americans observe Veterans Day, held annually on Nov. 11 to honor living military veterans, one proud veteran who also happens to be governor of Maryland, continues to raise awareness of the many issues facing veterans and their caregivers.
Last year, Maryland Governor Wes Moore declared 2024 as the “Year for Military Families.”
“I am a combat veteran. When I returned from Afghanistan, things were different for those like me who had served their country,” Moore, 46, told the AFRO. “Overseas, we got everything we needed, but back in the states, veterans often had to wait up to nine months before we could see a doctor. The promises made to veterans and their families were often broken.”
“Back then, I remember saying that if I ever got in a position to become a state chief executive, I would make sure we honored our word and so, we are,” he said.
Moore graduated from Valley Forge Military Academy and College in 1998, where he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He then earned a bachelor’s at John Hopkins University in Baltimore, graduating Phi Beta Kappa.
Moore was deployed to Afghanistan in 2005 as a lieutenant with the 82nd Airborne Division, where he led soldiers in combat. Upon his return, he served as a White House Fellow, advising on issues of national security and international relations.
In 2022, Moore was elected to serve as the first Black man to lead the state of Maryland and only the third African-American governor to be officially elected into office in U.S. history. He officially took office in January 2023. Since that time, he has adamantly supported veterans and their families.
In August 2024, the governor stepped up his support by officially partnering with the Hidden Heroes campaign, a nationwide initiative led by the Elizabeth Dole Foundation. The campaign promotes awareness about the problems faced by veterans and their caregivers. It also brings caregivers together for mutual support.
According to information released by the governor’s office, Maryland represents the 11th state to partner with the Hidden Heroes campaign – a partnership which Moore said ensures that resources which are available to Maryland veterans and families are expedited to those in need.
The Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs, newly named the Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families, said in a 2023 report that the state is home to more than 550,000 service personnel, veterans and families.
Moore said he believes joining the Hidden Heroes campaign will also result in Maryland businesses becoming more competitive.
“It makes sense from the perspective of state growth. Veterans are some of our most cherished assets and here in Maryland, we have a lot of military related centers and venues. How we treat our vets reflects how we think about our future and our survival.”
He said that upon becoming a member of the Hidden Heroes initiative, he was advised to focus on one goal that he and his administration could achieve. But for Moore, that wasn’t enough.
“I challenged everyone to join me and be aggressive and refuse to take no for an answer,” he said. “We were told that we couldn’t get it all done – things like securing a pathway for paid leave and dental and health care for members of the National Guard, improving support for military spouses, securing retirement pay increases and also demanding greater focus on the problem of veteran suicides.”
“Those were our goals and I am pleased with the progress we’ve made so far,” said Moore.
Undaunted, governor says there’s more work to be done
Moore noted that joining the campaign reinforces his administration’s commitment to making Maryland the state that serves by uplifting Maryland’s service members, military spouses and caregivers. But that’s not all he’s doing.
Signed into law in April, the Families Serve Act supports Maryland’s military families by expanding job opportunities for military spouses.
There’s also the Time to Serve Act, which ensures that state employees who also serve in the National Guard and Reserves are fully supported by the State in their service.
“As we enter the second year of the initiative, Maryland, like the rest of the nation, continues to face the challenge of improving military recruitment numbers,” Moore said. “That’s another reason why I decided to come aboard – to increase the numbers of the State National Guard and to make joining the National Guard more appealing. The best way to improve recruitment efforts is to do a better job at retention and give people the support they need and the benefits they require.”
As the year of the military family comes to a close, Moore said there is much more to be done.
“We realize that there’s more work ahead of us. We must end the scourge of veteran suicides and we’ve got to do a better job at helping veterans, military families and caregivers handle the challenges that they face each day,” he said. “I’m committed to this mission throughout the remainder of my term in office and before I move on, I want to make sure that Maryland is the best place in the country for military veterans and their families.”
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