Weekly Column: Saying ‘Thank You’ to our Veterans
Veterans Day is a special time to thank the men and women who wear the uniform of the United States of America, past and present, and acknowledge those who have sacrificed everything to protect our God-given freedoms. We are eternally grateful to them for not only keeping us safe here at home, but also for granting freedom and democracy to millions of people across the world. Every freedom we have – our entire way of life – is because of our veterans and their loved ones back home who supported them.
As a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, providing our veterans with quality care and support is a top priority of mine. I continue to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to find ways to improve services within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to make certain our veterans are properly cared for. Earlier this year, the Senate passed the Clay Hunt SAV Act, which I supported. The bill makes sure certain returning vets have access to quality mental health care to prevent suicide upon their return to civilian life. This bill was signed into law by President Obama and I was honored to attend the signing ceremony.
More recently, I cosponsored a bipartisan, bicameral bill to make it easy for veterans to get medical advice from a VA doctor via teleconference, so they won’t have to travel miles from home to visit a VA facility. I’ve also signed onto legislation to honor as veterans National Guard and Reserve retirees who served honorably for 20 years but do not qualify as veterans under existing law, as well as a number of bills aimed at reforming the VA and improving the Veterans Choice Program. Additionally, I worked with my Senate colleagues and the Department of Defense (DoD) to create a position for a Gold Star Advocate at DoD to assist families of fallen service men and women, as well as provide support to other Gold Star Advocates within the departments of the military.
While there is no doubt more must be done to change and reform the VA, this year the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee has made great strides in working to change and improve the quality of care they deliver. Our veterans have sacrificed everything on our behalf; providing them with adequate care is the least we can do.
When honoring our veterans, it’s also important to recognize and thank the families of those deployed. While their loved ones are far away fighting for our freedoms, those back home also make great sacrifices that often go unnoticed. When a loved one is gone, it places an extra burden on all family members. If something goes wrong, there is one less person to help fix it. When something wonderful happens, that person isn’t there to share in the joy. The strength of our military families continues to be an inspiration. I am extremely grateful for their selflessness and perseverance.
Every day, but especially on Veterans Day, I thank all of the men and women who have served in the military and who bravely continue to protect our freedoms. On behalf of all South Dakotans, I offer my deepest gratitude for their service. May God continue to bless all our service men and women, their families and their loved ones.
