For nearly fifty years, Oregon veteran Tracy thought he had earned honors from his two tours of service in Vietnam with the U.S. Navy, but he never received them. He had been unable to find those records until my team cut through the red tape and tracked down all five of his medals. Last November, I had the honor of presenting Tracy with his ribbons, and it was a powerful moment to demonstrate in person how much our country appreciates his service.
Each of Oregon’s 284,000 veterans deserve the same respect and care. Veterans live in every community across Oregon. At least one-in-ten folks in Curry, Coos, Douglas, Lincoln, and Clatsop counties is a veteran, and Lane and Tillamook counties are close behind. During my town halls each year in all 36 Oregon counties, veterans share their stories of service, of struggles with suicide and mental health, and of the challenges in accessing health care and affordable housing in their communities.
Oregon’s veterans should be able to take full advantage of the benefits they earned serving our country. Here’s how I’m fighting to help.