Michelle Obama grew teary-eyed as she gave an impassioned speech thanking military caregivers for their important, but often unrecognized sacrifices.
On Wednesday night, veteran and military caregivers sat in the audience as former first lady Michelle Obama won the Hidden Heroes Champion Award.
The award was given by The Elizabeth Dole Foundation’s Hidden Heroes campaign, a initiative poised to help tell the stories of caregivers and provide viable resources.
The campaign, created by former North Carolina Senator Elizabeth Dole, hopes to bring attention to the almost 6 million family members and loved ones who care for military veterans.
On Wednesday night, former first lady Michelle Obama (middle) won the Hidden Heroes Champion Award for her work with military caregivers
The former first lady was preceded by activist and funnyman Tom Hanks after Dole gave her opening remarks.
‘Can I just have a glass of water please? Because quiet frankly with Senator Dole’s praising of me I think I chocked on my ego back there,’ he said to boisterous laughter.
Throughout his speech he recounted how his involvement with the Hidden Heroes campaign began, but a palpable shift could be seen in the room as Hanks turned his attention to Obama.
Pictured: Obama giving her acceptance speech that honored service members and caregivers at the Hidden Heroes gala
When introducing Obama, Hank recalled how she was chosen for such an award.
‘Well,’ he said, ‘we wanted to recognize someone who was there for our caregivers in the early days. A national leader who understood and took hold of the issue before most.’
‘When the foundation thought who that leader might be, the choice was obvious and immediate.’
As Obama graced the stage, the room stands to applaud and listens to her speech with a griped attention.
‘It’s been so meaningful to partner with this foundation on issues that we’re all so passionate about,’ Obama said.
‘To be honored in this community of caregivers, veterans and their families is truly overwhelming.’
Obama: ‘You all have changed me forever. You’ve changed the way I see service. The way I see war. You’ve changed the way I see this entire country’
During her speech, Obama showed a moment of self awareness and praised service members’ dedication to the country.
She said: ‘But I also feel empowered because I know everything I’ve done on this issue pales in comparison to literally every single service member, every caregiver, every veteran, every military spouse and child I have ever met.’
‘Yeah, I’m giving speeches, but I’m not managing a household all alone while my loved one is serving overseas.’
In an emotional moment, Obama’s fervor seeps through and she fights back tears as she thanks members of the military.
‘You all have changed me forever. You’ve changed the way I see service. The way I see war. You’ve changed the way I see this entire country.’
She recalls being able to sit down with military spouses while Barack Obama was campaigning for his first election and heard stories ‘that blew [her] away.’
‘I learned about the strains on family’s created by the unseen wounds of war.’
She ended her speech with the words: ‘We see you.’
Obama shared her admiration for military caregivers and thank the Dole Foundation for their valuable work in a tweet (pictured)
‘Because your power is not that you just adjust to the new normal. You thrive in it. You all are an inspiration.’
‘My message to you is this: We see you…and in all of my work all I’ve tried to do is that I see you and my husband sees you. And millions of Americans see you. We know you’re unsung heroes and we care.’
Earlier in the night, Hanks described Dole’s creation of Hidden Heroes and Obama’s entry into the campaign.
‘Fortunately, and finally, Senator Dole saw them and sounded the alarm,’ he said.
‘And when she did another national leader was listening. Michelle Obama wanted to know how she could help.’
Dole and Obama held a conference in the White House with more than 70 military caregivers in attendance.
For many, it was the first first time they received national recognition for their work.
Tom Hanks (left) and Savannah Guthrie (right) are two ambassadors for the Hidden Heroes campaign
Obama reportedly said: ‘When I look at you all and I see how emotional you are because you are here, because the country is recognizing what you do, I know it touches you so much.’
‘We know you are sacrificing so much and so much of what you do goes unnoticed.’
‘You are some of the most unsung heroes in the country.’
Today Show host Savannah Guthrie is an ambassador for Hidden Heroes and was also in attendance last night.
During a segment on the Today Show, Guthrie highlighted a military couple who were one of the ‘hidden heroes’ being honored and Obama’s award.
In a tweet, Gurthrie said: ‘What a night! Loved celebrating our military caregivers with [Michelle Obama], [Tom Hanks], [Rita Wilson] at the Hidden Heroes gala.’
Pictured: Former North Carolina Senator Elizabeth Dole (left), the founder of Hidden Heroes, and Savannah Guthrie (right) at the gala
According to Guthrie, there ‘wasn’t a dry eye in the house’ when Obama gave her speech.
‘Well now I’m crying all over again. There was not a dry eye in the house last night when the first lady spoke of her care for military veterans and the care givers.’
During the gala, the Bob and Dolores Hope Foundation, a philanthropic organization, donated $1 million to a new Hidden Heroes campaign spearheaded by Tom Hanks.
Pictured: Savannah Guthrie (left) and Michelle Obama (right) attending the military gala on Wednesday nigt
It will honor caregivers who support veterans with dog tags of their own.
Many caregivers, who are often family of wounded veterans, do not receive the same access to resources that other programs provide for their military relative.
‘Playing this role can impose a substantial physical, emotional, and financial toll on caregivers,’ the RAND Corporation reports.
RAND says there are an estimated 5.5 million military caregivers in the United States and of that number 1.1 million, or 19.6 percent, are caring for post-9/11 veterans.
17 percent of civilian caregivers reportedly spend 40 hours per week providing care.
RAND says: ‘These caregivers play an essential role in caring for injured or wounded service members and veterans.’
As of 2011, post 9/11 caregiver duties cost as much as $3 billion.
Hidden Heroes, and other advocacy groups, are working to ensure proper resources can be provided to combat these issues.