Each year, Veterans Day gives us the opportunity to honor our nation’s heroes and thank those service men and women who are currently fighting for freedom abroad. Since September, 2001, more than 17,500 Kentuckians have served in the War against Islamic Radicalism. The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that there are 23.4 million living veterans in the United States and 344,000 veterans living in Kentucky. As your Congressman, I wanted to share some of the ways communities in the Fourth District are showing their support for our men and women in uniform.
Several of Kentucky’s cities have gotten involved with America Supporting Americans, a non-profit organization that connects individual units from all branches of the military with communities across the country. The communities establish strong, supportive relationships with the service members in their adopted unit by sending care packages and letters and organizing community events to honor their unit. In the Fourth District, nearly twenty cities have adopted units; in fact, Kentucky has adopted more units than any other State in the U.S.
Fort Mitchell’s Beechwood Independent School has been a longtime supporter of Bravo Company 2nd-504th Parachute Infantry Regiment stationed at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. Fort Mitchell adopted the unit in 2004. Since then, students and faculty at Beechwood have mailed letters to unit members and their children, shipped regular care packages, and sent homemade cookies and ornaments to the troops each Christmas. On October 24th, Beechwood hosted Bravo Company for a day of activities, including special recognition during halftime of the Beechwood-Bellevue H.S. football game. To learn more about the America Supporting Americans organization, visit http://www.asa-usa.org/.
In Lewis County, residents have been decorating their historic barns with special sign boards painted with quilt patterns for the last few years as part of the Lewis County Cooperative Extension Service’s “Barn Quilt Trail” project. This Veterans’ Day, Lewis County will officially unveil “Patriot Trail,” a section of the Barn Quilt Trail dedicated to all veterans. Barns on Patriot Trail have been painted with special red, white and blue quilt squares to honor the service and sacrifice of these great Americans. Even the local Veterans of Foreign Wars post has participated in this project by painting quilt squares to resemble the flags of each branch of the armed forces.
America Supports You and the Thank You Foundation are two additional organizations that offer ways to show your support for our troops. Through the America Supports You website, http://www.americasupportsyou.mil, you can send personal messages of encouragement to Americans serving abroad. The Thank You Foundation has established several programs designed to improve the lives of current and former members of the U.S. armed forces. Their website, www.thethankyoufoundation.org, includes a wealth of resources and information on ways to say thank you and get involved in your community.
As an eleven-year Army veteran, I ask that each of you take time on November 11th to recognize the service and dedication of those who defend our freedom. To those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country, we are forever grateful.