A Day for Veterans

A Day for Veterans
STRAIGHT TALK WITH SAM

Volume 5, Issue 45, November 7, 2005

Last month two mountain climbers, some 13,000 feet above sea level, came across a secret that the Mount Mendel Glacier in California had been hiding for 63 years. A World War II airman had been frozen in the glacier since his plane crashed in 1942. The National Park Service immediately took action to find out the airman's identity and give him a proper burial.

In America we have a duty to remember and care for all of those who served this country and carried the banner of freedom. Not every soldier who serves our country participates in an epic battle. Every major victory though is made possible by hundreds of smaller, routine missions.

In Congress, we continue to make sure our veteran's receive the care they were promised. Since I have been in Congress, funding for veterans programs has increased by 42%. We passed concurrent receipt that will benefit more than 250,000 disabled military retirees in the next ten years. More than 90% of veterans receive primary and specialty care within 30 days of their desired date.

We have made a commitment to take care of our veterans. They fought for us and now it's important to me that I fight for them. In this time of war we cannot forget those who have fought for liberty's standard in the past.

This Friday we will honor all of our nation's veterans. I hope that you will pause to help remember all those that have served this country.

http://www.house.gov/graves/straighttalk/2005issue45.htm