REP LIEU HONORS LOCAL VETERANS DURING ANNUAL VETERANS DAY EVENT
LOS ANGELES – Over Veterans Day weekend, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County), a United States Air Force veteran, hosted his annual virtual event honoring local veterans in Los Angeles County. Eight veterans joined to share experiences from their time in the service and non-military community members joined to listen in. Veterans from the United States Air Force, Marine Corps, Army and Navy were present.
“It was an honor to host my annual Veterans Day event this weekend,” said Congressman Lieu. “Each year, we host this special event to honor active military, reservists, and veterans for the sacrifices they make for our country. This year we celebrated three important milestones: the 75th anniversary of the desegregation of the U.S. military, the 75th anniversary of the integration of women in the Armed Forces, and the 50th anniversary of the All-Volunteer Military. We have the greatest military in the world and that’s thanks to our veterans, each of whom have made sacrifices to defend and protect our nation. It was an honor to hold this event to let our local heroes know how much we truly appreciate them.
“I believe that if we are to continue to have a strong volunteer military, we must provide our veterans with the highest quality care and benefits when they return home. I’m proud to have authored the legislation that allowed for the creation of permanent supportive housing on the West Los Angeles VA Campus. The West LA VA now has four buildings of permanent supportive housing with 233 fully occupied units. By the end of 2024, the campus will have three more buildings, adding another 254 units. I’m also pleased that last year Congress passed and President Biden signed the PACT Act, which is a historic expansion of benefits and health care for veterans and their families. In its first year, the PACT Act delivered $1.85 billion in benefits for veterans. While we celebrate these accomplishments, we also acknowledge the work left to do to make life better for our nation’s heroes. I look forward to continuing that work in Congress.”
Excerpts from the Conversations with Veterans event:
Mike Mullen, Army
“The thing that really had an emotional effect on me wasn't until many years after Vietnam. After finding my old helicopter outfit had an association and yearly reunions to coincide with Veterans Day from the west to the east coast, I started attending. And after talking with the foot soldiers from across the USA, I learned how grateful they were of us helicopter crews who came to their rescue time and time again! Whether it be our machine gun fire taking out enemy over running their positions, pulling out their wounded or just re supplying them with ammo, food, and water. We literally shared hugs and tears! I never knew we meant so much to them, it was so rewarding to hear!”
Jim Craig, Army Reserves
“The day a vehicle born improvised explosive device was detonated near to my position by two suicide bombers, once I picked myself up and looked around, I saw it clearly. I saw the remains of two of our Afghan partners, and a burning American flag. I knew them. And I knew that they were both waiting on the approval to move their families to the United States, and the security, stability, and prosperity it provided. For their families, there was now an empty hole, despair, and an insecure and questionable future. The American survivors were smiling and congratulating each other. But I saw beyond that. And I watched that world after I came home, all the way up until our final pull-out.”
Tony Hsu, Air Force
“I recall helping with transporting a wounded Marine from the plane to the ambulance so that he could be transported to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. The Marine had severe burns throughout his body and was in a coma. Surrounding him were the familiar medical devices that I had disassembled thousands of times. On each of them were stickers with the initials “TH”. The medical devices I had worked on were now keeping this Marine alive. That was when I realized my part as support. I later found out that the military was transporting him back stateside so that he could be with his family as he gave the ultimate sacrifice. I did not want to fail him.”
Jim Zenner, Army
“I joined the Army because I was watching others fight for my family’s freedom on the news after 9/11 and couldn’t imagine living my life not having done my family’s part in the Global War on Terror. I joined at 27 as an all-source intelligence analyst. I served 15 months in support of Iraqi Freedom at the height of the sectarian violence right after the golden mosque was attacked in 2006…When I joined the Army, I had no college education and left active duty with a bachelor’s degree in psychology…. I have dedicated my professional career to helping my fellow veterans and addressing homelessness, mentoring and caring for them and providing peer support to address a myriad of issues the veteran community faces such as suicide, and lack of access.”
For more on Congressman Lieu’s work to support veterans, please click here.
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