7Salutes: Military and veteran caregivers honored at star-studded DC gala

WASHINGTON (7News) — A star-studded gala was held in D.C. honoring some of America’s hidden heroes who served behind the scenes.

Many of them are dealing with the wounds of war without ever having put on a uniform.

Dec. 10 was a majestic night at The Anthem in the Wharf. Patrons wore their best and listened to speakers like the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Charles Q. Brown, and acclaimed actor, Tom Hanks. But they were not the stars of the show.

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Instead, the focus of this night was on America’s military and veteran caregivers. These are family members, neighbors, and friends who provided for servicemembers and veterans who can't care for themselves.

There are 14.3 million caregivers in this country, and many of them struggle to pay the bills and put food on the table.

So the Elizabeth Dole Foundation spent the evening highlighting their courage at its annual 'Heroes & History Makers Celebration.’

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“Right now millions of families across the country are struggling in the shadows, caring for wounded servicemembers and veterans because the longest period of war in US history which ended in Iraq and Afghanistan, meant that servicemembers and veterans are recovering at home with wounds and injuries and illnesses that are going to last their entire life,” said Elizabeth Dole Foundation CEO, Steve Schwab.

Shawn Lopez had multiple college degrees and a promising future, yet put his career on hold to care for his ailing father.

“He’s a veteran. 23 years in the Navy. He had a toxic exposure in the military which led to stage-4 renal cell cancer,” said Lopez. “At that point, I had to make a decision. Do we want to put him in a nursing home? Long-term care? And I just wasn’t comfortable with that. So I said I’m going to step up, I’m going to put my career on hold, I’m going to help him out however long it was.”

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Studies show many of these caregivers are struggling financially or suffer from depression and mental health issues.

The Elizabeth Dole Foundation provides money and resources to help them, but that’s just the start. The group also connects them to others who are going through the same challenges. The foundation also advocates on their behalf on Capitol Hill.

“We can’t turn off our support when the TV stops talking about these wars and these conflicts. The wars are still happening in homes all across the DMV and every part of this country,” said Schwab.

These servicemembers put their lives on the line for our country. For many of these caregivers, it’s a labor of love to serve them.

“To me, it was a no-brainer. I’m going to help out as long as I can, and whatever sacrifice that means I’ll deal with that later,” said Lopez.

There are many ways you can get involved with the Elizabeth Dole Foundation by donating money or volunteering your time.

If you have a friend or loved one who is a caregiver, please reach out to remind them they’re not alone.