Let us honor and provide for Maryland’s military families

In my office in Annapolis, I proudly display one of my favorite mementos — the blue star flag that my mom hung in her window during my two deployments to Iraq. She had no way of knowing when I was safe — or the rare moments I was in actual danger. To her, my two years in Iraq served as a constant source of stress and anxiety.

When I became Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the state of Maryland, Gov. Wes Moore challenged me to think about how I could lean in and do more to empower military families, including veteran families, caregivers and survivors.

This challenge — to leave no military family behind — resonated deeply with me.

On Dec. 13, the Moore-Miller administration made it clear that Maryland is answering the call by declaring 2024 the “Year for Military Families” to celebrate and honor military families but also to back this pledge with action.

We used that day to announce a suite of new bills we are championing with partners in the legislature. Two of these bills were included in the governor’s agenda for the current Maryland General Assembly session in support of promoting the administration’s efforts to make Maryland the state that serves (“Maryland Gov. Wes Moore’s 2024 legislative priorities expected to include military families, housing, public safety,” Jan. 8).

The first, House Bill 604/Senate

Bill 478 — the Families Serve Act of 2024 — allows private-sector employers to implement preferential hiring for spouses of active duty service members. It also expands our state government’s current preferential hiring process for veterans to include military spouses.

The second, House Bill 580/Senate Bill 477 — the Time to Serve Act of 2024 — doubles military leave available to state employees who serve in the National Guard or military reserves and gives service members enhanced flexibility to use their leave for personal purposes.

By declaring 2024 the Year for Military Families, we make it clear that when we say “thank you for your service,” it’s more than just a nice sentiment here in Maryland; it’s backed by action. And when we talk about service in Maryland, it doesn’t just refer to those who wear a uniform. It also includes the family members who love and support those who wear a uniform.

— Anthony Woods, Annapolis

The writer is secretary of the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs.