U.S. Army-Veteran Maria Romo’s feelings about the Howard County Veterans and Military Families Monument are deeply personal, she said. “When I look at the monument, I think about the friends I served with, the memories we shared and the sacrifices we made. Those experiences shaped the rest of our lives.”

The monument leads her to reflect not only on her service but also on her journey as a soldier, a military spouse and a parent. Both Maria and her former spouse were on active duty when he was deployed overseas.

“I remained behind raising our newborn child,” she said. “Like so many military families, we understood that service often requires sacrifices not only from those who deploy, but also from those who carry on at home.”

The monument serves as a powerful reminder that military service is about more than wearing a uniform, she said. To Maria, the monument means “duty, resilience, sacrifice and the strength of the families who serve alongside us. It honors those who answered the call to serve and ensures that their sacrifices and the sacrifices of their loved ones are never forgotten.”