VETERAN’S AWARENESS DAY SPEECH

Senators, Representatives, honored guests, veterans. Welcome to the 2005 Veteran’s Awareness Day, sponsored by the Oklahoma Veteran’s Council.

Thank you for allowing us this time to address you and speak of veteran’s issues in the State. I often am accused of being rather inflammatory in my speech. As an old Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant I have a tendency to be rather blunt and straightforward when I speak on issues I feel strongly about. So if I seem like a bull in a china closet, let me apologize in advance. I realize this time is valuable and limited so I will be brief. This probably is a great relief to most of you present. There are over 365,000 veterans in the State of Oklahoma. They represent an economic impact of over 1.3 billion dollars to the State annually. It is estimated each of these dollars turns over six times in the community. If we were a corporation we would be one of the largest in the State of Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Veteran’s Council is an organization comprised of over 26 Veteran’s organizations here in Oklahoma. We act as a conduit for all the veteran’s groups concerns in the care of our great State’s veterans and their families. We award scholarships annually to deserving Oklahoma students and we work with you to better the climate for veterans in Oklahoma.

General George Washington in an address to Congress stated: “The ability to persuade the next generation to fight a war; no matter how justified, depends directly on how we treated our veterans of the last war.” Treatment of our veterans is not an economic issue it is a moral contract. Our States veterans kept their part of the bargain; they served with distinction, valor and honor. They stood by their oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies; many to pay the price in their own blood or with their lives. We as citizens of this great State should be proud to care for them and honor their sacrifice.

We hear great talk of supporting our troops as they fight the War on Terror, this is wonderful. But let us not forget when we speak of veterans and benefits for veterans these laws also directly benefit our troops and their families. They became veterans by law the second they swore their oath of service to our country. Many of these laws benefit them also. History has taught the veteran one valuable lesson, in every war promises are made and often after every war those promises are broken. Pledges to help veterans are empty unless codified into law. In this we ask you assistance and pledge our support for your efforts. Let us not make the heroes of today the forgotten of tomorrow.

Among the 54 Bills pending for veteran’s issues, an overwhelming amount, we firmly back several and ask for your support in making them law. Our first priority is, as always, full funding of the Oklahoma Department of Veteran’s Affairs. This great agency directly cares for our aged and infirm veterans in Oklahoma. They have garnered a National reputation of excellence; we applaud them and their efforts in behalf of our veterans and support their request for funding and supplemental funding.

We urge passing SB 17, exempting veterans with 100% disability, as certified by the U.S. Department Veteran’s Affairs, from excise tax on motor vehicles. And HB 1007 also exempting surviving spouses of such 100% disabled veterans and those spouses of personnel killed during active duty in any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States from the same tax. It is a small amount overall but of great value to those who have suffered so much.

We urge passing into law HB 1476, providing for exemption from State income Tax for all retirement benefits by members of the Armed Forces of the United States. This will allow Oklahoma to attract the valued military retiree to our State and enrich our economic base. The military retiree isn’t a silver haired man or woman sitting back clipping coupons. They are starting new careers in the private sector, bring with them their highly technical skills and experience into our States workforce. Also the passing of HB 1595 exempting all active duty pay for our sons and daughters serving this great nation. With military personnel on food stamps, we don’t need to compound the problem by the State taking a deep bite of their paychecks each month.

We urge the passing into law of HB’s 1664 and 1492 waiving tuition requirements for students who have served in certain military campaigns and the surviving children of Oklahoma residents killed in military operations. Who better to educate then those who have proven their dedication to our rights and freedoms and those surviving children who have given their fathers and mothers in our defense of a right to an education?

Lastly we urge passage of SB 777, the bill making it against Oklahoma Law to steal the identity and honor of our veterans. This Bill provides for criminal penalties in those cases where individuals present themselves as veterans or decorated war heroes unjustly. It stops the plague of “want-a-be’s” and phony vets that bring dishonor to those who have really served.

We also urge the passing of the Bills regarding hunting and fishing exemptions for disabled veterans. And we support the important Bill requiring anyone that is being considered for appointment as the Secretary of Veteran’s Affairs to be a veteran.

Let me once again thank you for all your support in past years for our veterans and I hope in this coming session. I think the passage of State Question 715 this last year, by an 87% margin, tells you how your constituents feel about their veterans and I know you feel the same.

As we withdraw from these chambers I urge all of our veteran’s and their families to visit with your Senator and Representative and pledging your support for the States veterans.

In closing today I would like to say God Bless our men and women in uniform serving today, God Bless the Great State of Oklahoma and those who serve her interests and God Bless the United States of America.

4 posted on 02/18/2005 12:53:18 PM PST by 4CJ (Laissez les bon FReeps rouler - "Accurately quoting Lincoln is a bannable offense.")

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