The military spouse journey is unlike any other. They have written their own handbooks on life; they trailblazed before their time with visions of a greater world for their children. They have pried open doors to military spouse career and employment opportunities that are, nine times out of 10, the overlooked column.

The month of May is known for Mother’s Day and Memorial Day, but there is another day of recognition on the calendar that is often overlooked by a digitally distracted nation. National Military Spouse Appreciation Day takes place each year on the Friday before Mother’s Day. This year, we will celebrate this important day on Friday, May 8. For centuries, military spouses have stood unwavering beside our troops, carrying the vital charge of preserving our nation’s values on the home front.

The capes these heroes wear may not be shiny or glistening, but the heroes donning these capes are fierce and are covered in God’s grace. There are nearly one million military spouses who serve alongside our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen. Their gift to this nation is a quiet influence, strong resilience, and selfless, unassuming service. This source of strength is often overlooked, but it is the backbone of America.

I am a proud veteran spouse, the wife of an Iraq War Army veteran, the daughter-in-law of a United States Marine, and the granddaughter of two United States Army veterans. My community is the military spouse and veteran community — the unseen people who live a life of intentional and voluntary service, too. Our “deployments” look a little different and are less visible to those around us. We support those who are serving and have served this nation we love.

My purpose and heart here is to share my personal experience and to uplift my fellow military spouses to impart a greater understanding of the importance of these heroes. Military Spouse Appreciation Day is not another “Hallmark Card” holiday; rather, it is the purposeful recognition of the spouse who is on duty 24/7/365. The ones who quietly carry out a “hurry-up-and-wait,” “I’ve-got-this-covered,” life of selfless service. They are a testament to the enduring strength and steadfast resolve of those who sustain our nation through every deployment and embody a quiet, unwavering courage of their own.

Living in and among the military community has been the way of my life for many decades. In Washington, D.C., where I served from Capitol Hill to the White House, I served alongside many military spouses who opened my eyes to an entirely new spectrum of selfless service. I have seen them in action during natural disasters, the loss of a spouse, walking with military members and/or their families through long-term sickness, and the ongoing and problematic situation of unemployment due to frequent permanent change of station (PCS) moves. I have watched the resilience demonstrated by spouses who come together to support one another and their families. When a spouse is deployed, life must continue — and it does — quietly, seamlessly, invisibly. It truly is a testament to the determination and endurance of the military spouse.

The Department of Labor reports that military spouses continue to face a high rate of unemployment, estimated at 21-25% — roughly five to six times higher than the national average. While these rates have not officially moved since 2015, I have seen and experienced this challenge up close and personal since at least early 2012. This number represents 64% of military spouses who are either under-employed or seeking work. It’s just one more uphill fight for the military spouse. Their capes might not seem perfect or shiny to many in the corporate world, but when you hire a military spouse, you hire an individual marked by exceptional dedication and unwavering commitment to their work. This is something for the boardrooms of America to consider.

These unemployment numbers are disgraceful. This is something for America’s boardrooms to consider, especially as we have a White House led by a billionaire businessman and a Congress led by small business leaders and CEOs canvassing the nation.

I have watched the veteran spouse community surround their own when one’s hero comes home with life-threatening injuries. They provide a source of strength and dignity that many civilians may not recognize. It’s the “hurry up and wait,” “get over yourself” mentality. It says, “I have a family to raise and support.” Without hesitation or complaint, they carry a deep resilience that can only be learned and developed through times of testing and hardship. This may seem like a recipe for spousal success that the modern world would look at as weakness, but, in actuality, these spouses are the strongest people I know.

The endurance and superpower of the military spouse is unmatched and deserves our full respect. The very heartbeat and backbone of these United States is the selfless service of our military spouses and children. The military spouse community exhibits a quiet strength, resilience, and vigilance. It is the true backbone of this nation.

These spouses don superhero capes that may be invisible to most, but their dignity, grace, and unapologetic love for this nation stand the test of time. And so today, and every day, I honor those who have gone before me, and those who will come behind me, as they raise their hand in honor and sacrifice for the red, white, and blue.

Eden Gordon Hill is founder and owner of Eden Gordon Media, LLC, as well as a weekend radio host at WMAL’s “The All-American Book Club,” veteran spouse, former Trump appointee, and advocate for faith, family, and freedom.