Earlier this week I got a chance to sit down with a roundtable of veterans from around Orange County. Their insight was invaluable to me and helps me better advocate for their issues in Albany – I always appreciate their time.
Orange County knows how to honor its veterans, in word and deed, but there is always more work to be done to support the men and women who return home from military service. When people think of veterans, most think of those who have served in combat. While this is obviously the case, what is also true is that a veteran is anyone who has served in active-duty military at any time.
Another common misconception is that all veterans are eligible for veteran benefits. Benefits are dependent on many factors, including the period in which one served. Every branch of the military is filled with courageous, dedicated individuals doing incredibly dangerous jobs in service to our country. This is why I introduced and recently passed S.5195B, a bill that removes the requirement that a veteran serves during a time of war in order to be granted state benefits. I urge the Governor to sign this important legislation into law.
Christopher Gadson, a delegate to the Continental Congress and a brigadier general during the Revolutionary War famously said, “What I can do for my country, I am willing to do.” Since 1973, the United States of America has had an all-volunteer military, and I am proud to do everything within the scope of our State Senate office to ensure that anyone brave enough, dedicated enough, and honorable enough to volunteer for active service to our country is eligible for the benefits afforded.
