Title
Acknowledging and thanking the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, and supporting caregivers to our military servicemembers and veterans.
Body
WHEREAS, the series of wars and conflicts in which our nation has been engaged over time, since World War II, has resulted in 5.5 million military and veteran caregivers who are parents, spouses, sibling and friends, caring for those wounded, ill or injured who have served our nation, as documented by the 2014 RAND study commissioned by the Elizabeth Dole Foundation; and
WHEREAS, the daily tasks of these military and veteran caregivers can include but are not limited to bathing, feeding, dressing and caring for the grievous injuries of wounded warriors, administering medications, providing emotional support, caring for the family and the home, and working outside the home to earn essential income; and
WHEREAS, the nation provides multi-faceted support to our wounded, ill and injured veterans and service members through public, private and philanthropic resources, but their caregivers receive little support or acknowledgement; and
WHEREAS, most military and veteran caregivers consider the challenging work they do as simply carrying out their civic and patriotic duty, without realizing they are, in fact, caregivers, and do not identify themselves as such; and
WHEREAS, an alarming number of military and veteran caregivers, according to research, are suffering numerous debilitating mental, physical and emotional effects as a result of their caregiving duties; and
WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul acknowledges and thanks the Elizabeth Dole Foundation for its great work in our City, State and Nation not only to our servicemembers and veterans but to their caregivers as well;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the City of Saint Paul recognizes and supports those in our own community who are serving in these vital roles as care givers to our veterans and servicemembers and the unique challenges they face; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Saint Paul City Council encourages all who care for and support our veterans and service members to extend that support to their caregivers.