VETERANS’ HOME: STEP ONE
My granddad was a World War I veteran, both my mother and father were World War II veterans, and I’m proud to be a Vietnam veteran. At one time, the majority of persons elected to Congress, and legislatures throughout the nation, were veterans. Unfortunately, that’s not the case today. Military veterans are now the exception in elective offices. No one truly knows what it means to be a veteran unless they’ve “been there” and “done that.”
Our state is blessed with more than 70,000 veterans over age 65. Alaska owes a “Debt of Honor” and it’s been long past due. We sent our youth to World War I and II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and other bloody scenes of battle. They have stood in the place of “Mr. and Mrs. Alaska” to protect everything that’s good about America. Our nation survives as a result. If a man or woman is good enough to risk shedding blood in our nation’s battles, that man or woman is good enough to have a State Veterans Home.
And now, Alaska has taken the first step!
On August 29th I attended the groundbreaking celebration for the Alaska Veterans’ and Pioneers’ Home in Palmer. No longer is Alaska one of the two states without a veterans’ home of any kind. Congratulations to the administration, the legislature, and everyone involved, for the hard work in bringing about the fine new facility for veterans. Senators Lyda Green and Charlie Huggins, and the entire Matsu legislative delegation deserve special thanks. Now we need to work on a separate State Veterans’ Home but, as the saying goes, we’ve already “done good.”
Obviously, Alaska should honor the needs of both veterans and non-veterans. One hallmark of a great nation, and a great state, is its measure of care and respect for elders. The hallmark of Alaska should be one of excellence. God Bless our veterans, our United States Armed Forces, and America.
Our state is blessed with more than 70,000 veterans over age 65. Alaska owes a “Debt of Honor” and it’s been long past due. We sent our youth to World War I and II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and other bloody scenes of battle. They have stood in the place of “Mr. and Mrs. Alaska” to protect everything that’s good about America. Our nation survives as a result. If a man or woman is good enough to risk shedding blood in our nation’s battles, that man or woman is good enough to have a State Veterans Home.
And now, Alaska has taken the first step!
On August 29th I attended the groundbreaking celebration for the Alaska Veterans’ and Pioneers’ Home in Palmer. No longer is Alaska one of the two states without a veterans’ home of any kind. Congratulations to the administration, the legislature, and everyone involved, for the hard work in bringing about the fine new facility for veterans. Senators Lyda Green and Charlie Huggins, and the entire Matsu legislative delegation deserve special thanks. Now we need to work on a separate State Veterans’ Home but, as the saying goes, we’ve already “done good.”
Obviously, Alaska should honor the needs of both veterans and non-veterans. One hallmark of a great nation, and a great state, is its measure of care and respect for elders. The hallmark of Alaska should be one of excellence. God Bless our veterans, our United States Armed Forces, and America.
posted by Blogs by Rep Bob Lynn | 6:30 PM
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