US Senator Patty Murray is the Chair of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. Her office noted the issued the following Monday.
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Murray Press Office
Monday, November 12th,
2012
(202)
224-2834
Senator Murray Attends Veterans
Day Memorial Celebration
Murray:
Veterans Day is a time to reflect on
the shared duty we owe to our nation’s veterans
(Washington,
D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray, Chairman of the Senate Veterans’
Affairs Committee, attended Evergreen Washelli Cemetery’s 63rd Annual
Veterans Day Memorial Celebration with veterans and their families. She spoke
of the importance of honoring the shared duty owed to our nation’s veterans,
specifically in ensuring veterans can easily access the care and benefits they
deserve.
Key
excerpts from Senator Murray’s speech:
“Today is a day
to ask ourselves whether we have kept faith with our veterans; whether we are
keeping the promises we made to them as a nation when they signed up to serve.
Today is a day to take stock of where we have fallen short in delivering the
care and benefits our veterans earned; to take stock of what our veterans need
today and what they will need tomorrow; and to ask – what more can we do to
ensure our veterans can easily access the care and benefits they
deserve?”
“At the end
of the day, the only way that we will be able to ease the difficult transition
home for these men and women is by working together – with private and public
partnerships, with investments in unique new programs, with unified
encouragement to seek mental health care and overcome stigmas, and very
importantly, with a plan to get these veterans back to work.”
“Our
servicemembers and veterans have done everything we have asked of them. While
they don’t ask much in return, surely we can – and must – do better on their
behalf.”
The full
text of Senator Murray’s speech:
“Today is a
very special day in America. On this day, we celebrate and honor the great
sacrifices our veterans have made for each of us. It is because of their
sacrifice that we are a free people; that we enjoy the rights and privileges of
citizenship; that just last week we democratically and freely elected – as we do
every four years – a president of the United States.
“We are a free
country because of you. You who have worn the uniform have borne the burden of
the United States. I am so proud to stand with you today as we honor and
recognize this service to our nation.
“But as we
spend time today reflecting on, and giving thanks for, the sacrifices made by
those who have served, let us also reflect on the shared duty we owe to our
nation’s veterans.
“Today is a day
to ask ourselves whether we have kept faith with our veterans; whether we are
keeping the promises we made to them as a nation when they signed up to
serve.
“Today is a day
to take stock of where we have fallen short in delivering the care and benefits
our veterans earned; to take stock of what our veterans need today and what they
will need tomorrow; and to ask – what more can we do to ensure our veterans can
easily access the care and benefits they deserve?
“The answer
to each of these questions is – as all of you know – that we have more work to
do.
“That is why
I was proud the President signed my VOW to Hire Heroes legislation into law late
last year.
“Thanks to
this legislation, we’ve been able to take a real, concrete step toward putting
our veterans back to work.
“But you
know, and I know, it’s only that – a first step. The next step must be building
partnerships with businesses across the country to hire our nation’s heroes.
“Yet even as we
work to build these partnerships, we face another critical challenge as
thousands of our veterans begin their transition home. It is a challenge we are
all too familiar with, which is ensuring timely access to top quality mental
health care.
“Not every
veteran will be affected by these invisible wounds. But when a servicemember or
a veteran has the courage to stand up and ask for help, VA and DoD must be
there: every – single – time.
“They must be
there with not only timely access to care, but also the right type of
care.
“Challenges
like PTSD or depression are natural responses to some of the most stressful
events a person can experience.
“And we will do
everything possible to ensure that those affected by these illnesses – can get
help, can get better, and can get back to their lives.
“At the end
of the day, the only way that we will be able to ease the difficult transition
home for these men and women is by working together – with private and public
partnerships, with investments in unique new programs, with unified
encouragement to seek mental health care and overcome stigmas, and very
importantly, with a plan to get these veterans back to work.
“Our
servicemembers and veterans have done everything we have asked of them. While
they don’t ask much in return, surely we can – and must – do better on their
behalf.
“Let me close by saying that as we honor the many
sacrifices and accomplishments of veterans across the country, we must also
remember the many veterans who have been impacted by the devastation of
Hurricane Sandy.
“Some have been
displaced from their homes. Others may have difficulty reaching their normal VA
medical facility. Some who rely on their VA compensation and pension benefits to
make ends meet are experiencing difficulties receiving their checks as a result
of the hurricane.
“So while we
keep those affected in our thoughts and our prayers, I would encourage everyone
to reach out to your local veteran service organizations to see what you can do
to help. The American Legion, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Veterans
of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, Vietnam Veterans of America,
AMVETS, Paralyzed Veterans of America – each of these organizations, and others,
is a resource for veterans affected by Hurricane Sandy.
“Thank you for
having me here today. I am honored to be your partner in the United States
Senate, and I look forward to continuing to work together to make some real
changes for veterans in the coming years.”
###
Kathryn Robertson
Specialty Media Coordinator
Specialty Media Coordinator
Office of U.S. Senator Patty Murray
448 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington D.C. 20510
202-224-2834