The Associated Press reports that “Michelle Obama and Jill Biden are getting a dose of high-profile support for their nationwide effort to help military families.”  

“Former first lady Rosalynn Carter and former Sen. Elizabeth Dole are joining Mrs. Obama and Vice President Joe Biden’s wife at the White House on Friday to help call attention to the millions of people who care for ill or wounded service members and veterans.”  

“A RAND Corp. report commissioned by the Elizabeth Dole Foundation and released last week estimates that there are 5.5 million military caregivers in the U.S., including more than 1 million who look after veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.”  

“Besides military caregivers, the report classifies nearly 17 million other people as civilian caregivers.”  

“Together, these family members and friends often care for loved ones at significant emotional, physical and financial sacrifice, and the burden is only expected to deepen as the war in Afghanistan draws to a close and people continue to live longer.”