Active-duty and veteran military families were celebrated Saturday at a special event held at the Pacific Science Center in Seattle, Washington.
The Elizabeth Dole Foundation and Wounded Warrior Project joined First Lady Jill Biden, Sen. Patty Murray (D-Washington), and Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough as a part of the White House’s Joining Forces initiative.
The event recognized “hidden helpers,” the children and youth who help care for a wounded, ill or injured veteran parent or guardian at home. Hidden Helpers is an initiative of the Foundation and WWP, launched by Sen. Elizabeth Dole and Dr. Biden at the White House in 2021, in conjunction with Joining Forces. The initiative is designed to create supportive programming for the children of America’s 5.5 million military and veteran caregivers.
At the event, Biden, Murray, McDonough, and Steve Schwab, CEO of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation had the opportunity to speak and play with military and veteran children and their families. Children and youth in attendance had exclusive access to the Pacific Science Center, connected with other military families, and created special memories with their community and loved ones.
During a media roundtable with Washington State military caregiver Kristin Christensen and her daughter, hidden helper Avarie, the leaders spoke about the hidden work that caregivers and their children do in their communities to care for their wounded warriors.
“At the foundation, we support the nation’s nearly 5.5 million ‘hidden heroes’ … and it’s our responsibility as a country—it’s the responsibility of everyone in Washington state and in Seattle, as the Pacific Science Center did today—to support these families, to welcome them, to embrace them, and to help support their loved ones,” said Schwab.
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Biden thanked the families for the sacrifices they make on a daily basis.
“A day like today is so great to celebrate the families, as you well know, families serve alongside their loved ones,” she said. “I can’t thank you all enough for doing this roundtable and just creating awareness that even though we are not at war, our military families have sacrificed so much for us, and we need to give back and never forget.”
Murray said hidden helpers step up every day across Washington to help a family member who sacrificed for the nation.
“I’ve heard from so many hidden helpers about how they can feel isolated, or that they don’t have anyone to talk to about their experience,” she said. “That’s why events like today are so important—an opportunity for families to come together, share an afternoon of fun, and connect with other people who share a similar experience.
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This was the first major event dedicated to the Hidden Helpers initiative since launched in November 2021 at the White House where a groundbreaking study by research firm Mathematica was released, detailing serious concerns for the 2.3 million children of military and veteran caregivers in America.
“Veterans who are in our care are with us for such a short period. Where they spend the rest of their time is with you; with their families. It’s really important that we’re very focused on the whole, so we can provide that support for those heroes,” said McDonough.
The Elizabeth Dole Foundation and WWP co-chair the Hidden Helpers Coalition, comprised of more than 75 public and private sector organizations dedicated to creating resources and initiatives that will directly respond to the gaps in support identified by Mathematica. In response to the research findings, 40 unique commitments were announced at the Hidden Helpers launch to support children in military or veteran caregiving families and enhance the services available.
EDF is also partnering with The History Channel and A+E Networks to launch the first-ever ‘Untold Story Challenge,’ this November. This initiative will shine a light on the stories of America’s military-connected, caregiving youth.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.