RALEIGH, N.C. (WHKY) – Governor Josh Stein and the North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs hosted a reception honoring Gold Star Families and Families of the Fallen. September was Gold Star Families Month, recognizing families who have lost a loved one who served in the U.S. military.

Stein says North Carolina remains committed to supporting those families and honoring the sacrifice of their loved ones. North Carolina has one of the nation’s largest military populations, with more than 90,000 active-duty servicemembers, more than 40,000 National Guard and Reserve members, and more than 600,000 veterans.

The Stein administration has also backed measures to support military families, including helping military spouses transfer professional licenses, making driver’s license renewals easier, and expanding education assistance for military students.