I spent nine months at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland with my son, Derek, who was injured in Afghanistan in July 2011.  While there, and during my many visits back, I have encountered exceptional caregivers.  Almost every wounded warrior has someone who stands by his/her side.  These wonderful caregivers give up work, family, school, and so much more to be with their loved one in time of need.

As caregivers, we did not do what we did for acclamations or for honor.  We did it because we love our hero, and he needed us.

Since the start of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan in October 2001 until September 2012, 17,674 of our young men and women have been injured (See www.icasualties.org/OEF/USCasualtiesByState.aspx).  2,447 of those injuries were in the first nine months of 2012.  It was estimated that over 31,000 were injured in Iraq. 

While there are always those sad tales of wounded heroes who return and have little to no support, a majority of them have a spouse, fiancée, mother, father, sibling, friend or another loved one who sacrifices his/her own needs to stand by his side and care for him.

In addition to caregivers, non-profits are there to aid the family and the wounded warrior meet their needs.  There are so many wonderful organizations that step up to fill the gap left by the hospital, the VA, family finances, etc.  Some provide support and items of necessity while inpatient, and others give financial support.  There are groups who provide meals, and other groups who give vehicles, homes, and other large ticket items.

DC Military Family Life has decided that it is time to honor those wonderful caregivers and the non-profits who assist them. 

The five finalists from each category (caregiver and non-profit organization) will be recognized at a luncheon in Washington, D.C. that will be held in May.  Each of the finalists will be featured in DCMilitary Family Life Magazine.  This magazine will be inserted into 100,000 Military newspapers in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia.  All 10 finalists will be offered cash donations and/or the like in goods & services from our sponsors.

Do YOU know someone from the Mid-Atlantic region deserving of this honor?

If you do, the rules and procedure are discussed below and can also be reviewed by clicking on this link or entering this address in your browser:  www.dcmilitary.com/section/caregiverReward

There are a few simple rules.

The caregiver must have provided care to a wounded warrior within the past year and live (either permanently or temporarily) in the Mid-Atlantic region:  Virginia, DC, Maryland, Delaware, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, or North Carolina.  The non-profit organization must also provide services to wounded warriors in one or more of those states.

ALL ENTRIES ARE DUE BY MARCH 29, 2013.

NO PHONE CALLS, PLEASE.

After all entries are reviewed by a panel appointed by Comprint, the finalists will be contacted around April 1, 2013.

So, how do you enter?

Anyone can nominate a person or organization. There are 2 ways to enter.

1. Email caregiver@dcmilitary.com with your entry
2. By mail to:
   Caregiver Awards Nominee
   Comprint Military Publications
   9030 Comprint Court
   Gaithersburg, MD 20877

What should you include in your entry?

To Nominate a Caregiver:

-          You must write an essay of no more than 2,500 words. 

-          You may nominate yourself or someone else. 

-          The nominee must have been a caregiver to a Wounded Warrior in the past 12 months.  Please include time period when care was given.

-          The essay must contain the nominee's complete name, address, email and phone number as well as the person doing the nomination's name, address, email and phone number.

-          The caregiver must live either temporarily or permanently in the Mid-Atlantic region.

The essay will be judged based upon the following criteria:

1. Sacrifices the caregiver made in order to care for his/her Wounded Warrior
2. Any delay and/or leave from school/work to care for the WW
3. What the person did to care for the WW
4. Actions the person took to care for his/her WW
5. Whether the caregiver assisted with other WW and how
6. Outlook and attitude during the care of the WW
7. Any organizations in which the caregiver participated to help the WW and others

Any recommendations made by chain of command, hospital workers or others will be considered.

To Nominate a Non-Profit Organization:

-          You must write an essay of no more than 2,500 words.

-          The organization must be a non-profit organization serving Wounded Warriors and their families in one of the following states-- VA, DC, MD, DE, WV, PA, NJ, NC.

-          The essay must contain the organization's name, a contact at the organization’s name, address, email and phone number, as well as the person doing the nomination's name, address, email and phone number.

The essay will be judged based upon the following criteria:

1. Things the organization does to benefit Wounded Warriors and their families.
2. Location of operations in our region.
3. Specific things the organization did for you or your Wounded Warrior family.

More detailed official rules may be reviewed at:  www.dcmilitary.com/section/caregiverRules.

So, get those creative juices flowing and submit your nomination today!

Who are the wonderful sponsors who have made this possible?  Comprint Military Publications , The Gazette (www.gazette.net), The Enterprise, Maryland Independent, dcmilitary.com (www.dcmilitary.com), and Fairfax County Times (www.fairfaxtimes.com).