WASHINGTON (AP) — Showing that some issues can bridge the political divide, Michelle Obama and Jill Biden, joined by former first lady Rosalynn Carter and former Sen. Elizabeth Dole, offered new sources of much-needed support Friday for millions of people who care for wounded service members and veterans, oftentimes at great emotional, physical and financial cost. There are more than 5.5 million military caregivers in the U.S., including 1.1 million caring for the newest generation of veterans, those who served after 9/11, according to a RAND Corp. study released last week and commissioned by Dole's foundation. [...] three groups — the Military Officers Association of America, USAA Bank and the American Bar Association — are working on creating a website to provide caregivers with legal and financial assistance. [...] the Defense Department is creating in-person caregiver forums at every U.S. military installation around the world that serves wounded service members and their caregivers, along with online tools for those who cannot attend the sessions. Friday's announcement kicked off a month of events to mark the third anniversary of Joining Forces, the nationwide initiative that Mrs. Obama and Vice President Joe Biden's wife, Jill, created in 2011 to boost public support for active-duty service members, military families and veterans in the areas of employment, education and wellness.
Reported by SeattlePI.com 23 hours ago.
↧