A MESSAGE FROM SECRETARY LARRY D. HALL

ones in their life. I witnessed this in my own family, growing up the son of a paratrooper on Fort Bragg. I saw from an early age the sacrifices military families make, and learned that military service members, veterans and their families are a part of our community, not a part from the community. Governor Cooper and NCDMVA are working hard every day to strengthen that bond even further.

It is the mission of this State to honor and salute the sacrifices of every mother, father, wife, husband, son, and daughter who has answered the call to service, or is the loved one of a service member. We must be accountable to you for the sacrifices you made in defense of our freedoms. We aim to exceed your expectations, not just meet the bare minimum. In the near future, we know that nearly 1 in 10 North Carolinians will have a background in military service. Going forward, we will continue to improve delivery of services and access to resources for all of our veterans and their families. Moreover, we are working to bring our Department fully into the 21st century, modernizing the way we serve you, while at the same time making it easier to navigate the process. You answered the call to serve our nation, and now we stand ready to answer the call to serve you, Yours in Service,

Larry D. Hall, Secretary N.C. Department of Military and Veterans Affairs

n behalf of myself and our entire staff, we would like to thank all of the community partners, cabinet agencies, and other organizations that have contributed to the NCDMVA Resource Guide this year and every year. Every spring, our Department prepares this Resource Guide for NC’s military service members, veterans and their families. 2020 obviously has presented challenges for all of us, but we are grateful to still be able to publish a late-year edition of this book to ensure those families have the assistance they need during these uncertain times.

OWe don’t know how long COVID-19 will continue to impact our lives, but one thing that will never change is our commitment to serving NC’s military and veteran community. We look forward to reaching the end of this crisis and facing the challenges that will come, and we look forward to moving our state forward together.

Military service members, veterans and their families are a part of the community, not apart from the community— this Resource Guide is a testament to that. Thank you for your interest in this Guide, and for all you do for the United States and the State of North Carolina.

Warmest Regards, Angella Dunston Director of Communications

COVID-19 has had a tremendous impact on our lives. Since the Spring of 2020, this health crisis has transformed the way people all over the world live, work, and raise their families. The State of North Carolina is no exception. As we continue to confront the daily challenges posed by this global pandemic, the NCDMVA remains committed to providing the best possible service to our veterans, active duty service members and their families.

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To that end, when you see this in the Resource Guide, it’s to highlight a resource you and your family can utilize during this lth crisis. As many families and small businesses are struggling to cover costs and confront the obstacles created by the pandemic, our Department wants to make it easier to connect you with the information you need now, when it matters most.

We don’t know how long COVID-19 will continue to impact our lives, but NCDMVA is dedicated to standing with NC’s veterans, active duty members and the community for the long haul.

General Michael X. Garrett assumed duties as the 23rd Commander of United States Army Forces Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, on 21 March 2019. As Commander of the United States Army’s largest organization, he commands 215,000 active duty Soldiers, and 190,000 in the U.S.