Legislative: Honoring the Past by Making a Difference

Honoring the Past by Making a Difference

It was a privilege to attend this year’s Celebrating America’s Freedom Event in Williamsburg, Virginia, to commemorate the 236th year of the Battle of Yorktown on October 19, 1781.

This area is rich with history and is called the “Historic Triangle.” Jamestown, located on the western point of the triangle, was founded by the first settlers in 1607. It is the site of the first permanent English settlement and the first colonial government in America. Williamsburg, located on the northern point, served as Virginia’s colonial capital during most of America’s struggle for independence. Yorktown, located on the eastern point, is where our nation’s independence was won. It is the site of the final major battle on land and at sea which ended the American Revolutionary War and marked America’s independence from Great Britain.

Jamestown is where America was born. Williamsburg is where our nation’s ideals matured. Yorktown is where America became of age. America has a rich legacy of patriots; our legacy can be no less!

Every person who has served in our nation’s Armed Forces agreed to give their life to preserve the precious freedoms and liberties for which our forefathers fought (and sometimes died). This is the commitment that carried them into harm’s way on foreign soil to meet and defeat the enemies of democracy on the field of battle. These brave patriots found meaning in something greater than themselves. As guardians of our freedoms and liberty, they embodied the spirit of service. Their unselfish acts of ultimate sacrifice define all this is good about our nation.

The baton has now been passed to us. It is our duty to advocate on behalf of our active-duty service members and veterans to ensure the promises made by our legislators are kept. As advocates, we are the voice of our veterans, active-duty military and their families. Please continue the fight to hold the line!!! If not us, who?

We are nearly half-way through this program year. Below is a list of helpful hints to assist you in reporting your legislative achievements:

1. Submit Auxiliary Legislative Reports: Now is a great time to submit your legislative achievements, including participation in your community efforts (interaction with legislators through phone calls, emails, letters, social media and personal contacts), to your Department Legislative Program Chairman. Share your efforts with them by sending photos, newspaper articles and promotionals through website, Facebook, newsletters, General Orders, etc., for inclusion in your Department’s Legislative Program Year-End Report. Please track participation, as it will make your end-of-year reporting easier if you start now while everything is still fresh in your mind!

2. Continue Effective Grassroots Advocacy: Reach out to your legislators in an effort to gain their support for legislation that affects our active-duty military, veterans and their families. Let us continue to work together to help educate them on our legislative issues. Then, we must hold our elected legislators’ feet to the fire to ensure they keep their campaign promises to support our veterans and their families. This challenge includes the city, county, state and national levels.

3. Join the VFW Action Corps: Another legislative goal we are working on this year is to get as many members, friends, neighbors and colleagues as possible to become “Veterans Advocates” by joining the VFW Action Corps. When they do, they will receive weekly email updates on current legislative initiatives/bills, and receive special action alerts to let their voices be heard on issues affecting our veterans. Share this link to sign up: http://capwiz.com/vfw/mlm/signup.htm.

I am honored and humbled to serve our organization in this capacity. It is a privilege to assist with, and educate fellow members about, the legislative process. We are the voice of our veterans, active-duty military and their families. We CAN make a difference. Let Our Voices Be Heard!

My best wishes to you and your family this Thanksgiving.