The quarter-page ad featured a picture of Oscar-winning big screen actor Tom Hanks with the eye-catching words, "Heroes Hidden In Plain Sight."

Hanks recently joined former Senator Elizabeth Dole and other high profile individuals in Washington, D.C. to launch Hidden Heroes, a campaign created by the Elizabeth Dole Foundation.

Based on a comprehensive Rand Corporation study commissioned by the foundation, the data revealed that 5.5 million loved ones care for wounded, ill and injured servicemembers and veterans.

As the longest period of war in American history slowly draws to an end, an increasing number of military families have taken on unanticipated, full-time caregiving roles at home.

Hidden Heroes is dedicated to bringing attention to this crisis and motivating civic engagement to better connect military caregivers to resources and support.

"The toll taken on caregivers by serving in such an all-consuming role results in physical and psychological stress, a decrease in workforce participation and lost productivity," wrote Dole in an article entitled, Caring for Our Nation's Hidden Heroes?

"These caregivers are the single most important factor in the recovery and well-being of wounded warriors."

With just one percent of the country serving in the military, few citizens understand what military families confront when a loved one goes to war - or returns wounded.  

The shrinking percentage of Americans who have worn the nation's cloth has resulted in a situation in which many citizens are unfamiliar with their military, to say nothing of the circumstances faced by the caregivers of wounded military members.

"If we want to be a nation that truly cares for those who have borne the battle, we must also be a nation that cares for our caregivers," said Hanks, who is also the chairman of the Hidden Heroes campaign.

He went on to challenge public leaders, corporations, nonprofits and individual Americans to step up to meet the challenge.

During the campaign, public service announcements featuring Hanks will call the nation to action.

"Unseen and undefined, there are millions of heroes who are caring for our wounded veterans each day," said Hanks.

"Together we all can bring military caregivers out of the shadows to honor their service and strengthen their support systems."

Dole's foundation's website, HiddenHeroes.org provides help and encouragement.

It is the premier gathering place for military and veteran caregivers and those who wish to help them.

The site provides hundreds of carefully betted resources and a secure place for communicating with other caregivers.

The campaign is calling on cities across the country to commit to helping military caregivers.  Fifty-four cities have made the commitment, including Tacoma.

Each city has signed on to create a steering committee of public and private organizations to both assess and address the specific unmet needs of it's city's military caregivers.

"Together we are working towards a future where supporting military caregivers is no longer a cause, but it is part of the culture of our nation," concluded Dole.