DEPARTMENT: Government and Public Affairs
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Jeff Coyle, Director, Government and Public Affairs
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT:
A City Resolution that declares San Antonio a “Hidden Heroes” city.
SUMMARY:
A Resolution supporting a City proclamation declaring San Antonio a “Hidden Heroes” city. The City, through its Office of Military Affairs, will create a Steering Committee within the Commission of Veterans Affairs (VAC) to serve as a hub and organizing force for a city-wide effort to promote awareness and offer support and assistance to military caregivers and their families.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
In July of 2016 Senator Elizabeth Dole wrote Mayor Ivy Taylor inviting her to join her Foundation, the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, and its national partners to create a local network supporting the Hidden Heroes campaign. The heart of the campaign will be in these Hidden Heroes cities-a nationwide network of cities committed to unifying their existing support and resources, and adding others that are needed, in order to provide the critically needed support for their city’s military and veteran caregivers.
Senator Dole has declared that “these families are serving our country with the same honor and duty their loved ones once demonstrated in volunteering to defend our freedom.” The goal is have the City rise embrace its military caregivers and offer them the recognition and support they deserve.
The goals of the campaign are; to put into action the most effective locally relevant ways to identify military caregivers in their community, to continually update a register of those caregivers, and to bring together those organizations with programs already assisting military caregivers.
This item went before Governance on April 20, 2017 and was recommended for full City Council review.
ISSUE:
A City Proclamation that declares San Antonio a “Hidden Heroes” city and to create a Steering Committee within the VAC to promote awareness and offer support and assistance to military caregivers and their families.
ALTERNATIVES:
City Council could choose not to approve this Resolution.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the approval of this Proclamation that declares San Antonio a “Hidden Heroes” city.