Exactly a year after World War I ended, President Woodrow Wilson, on November 11, 1919, proclaimed that this day “be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service.”
It is the ultimate sacrifice that no parent wants their child to make. Yet when these brave young men and women put on the uniform, they exemplify the best our state and our country have to offer and it is why I’ve been steadfast in my support of veterans, active military personnel, and the families of fallen soldiers.
I’ve had the privilege of speaking in Boulder City at ceremonies remembering Nevada’s fallen heroes at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery. These somber events, where I listen to the brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, grandparents and friends, as they share stories of their loved ones and keep alive their memories.
Cemeteries offer a solemn, quiet place to remember loved ones. Veterans Memorial Cemetery is the largest veterans’ cemetery in the Southern Nevada region, and I recently announced that it will receive $3.4 million to expand by developing 5,000 additional burial plots.
Without expanding, some families and friends would be forced to travel long distances just to visit their loved one’s final place of rest. The closest national cemetery is 245 miles away in Riverside, California, while the closest State cemetery is 439 miles away in Fernley.
Similarly, veterans seeking medical care should not be forced to leave the state to receive treatment. This is why I secured more than $600 million in funding for a new VA hospital in North Las Vegas that is set to open next year and serve only veterans.
Our veterans and their families deserve the best. I will continue to keep every Nevadan who has fought for our country in my thoughts not just on Veterans Day, but every day.
Contact Harry Reid at http://reid.senate.gov/
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