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Semper Fi
Posted by Randy | November 10, 2010

Happy Birthday to our United States Marine Corps. Today, we honor Marines past and present as we look back over 235 years of service of dedicated Marines across the world from the beaches of Normandy to the jungles of Vietnam to the deserts of Iraq. To all of our Marines, thank you for your service and sacrifice.

I want to share with you this video honoring the 235th Birthday of the Marine Corps:

 

Semper Fidelis.
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A New Veterans Clinic
Posted by Randy | September 02, 2010
We are just a week away from the opening of a new state-of-the-art clinic in Emporia, Virginia. Our nation’s veterans have dedicated their lives in service of our nation, often enduring long periods of separation from loved-ones and suffering physical and emotional pain. Yet, when it comes to healthcare, veterans hospitals are three-times more overcrowded that non-veterans hospitals.

The state-of-the-art clinic in Emporia will focus not only on providing primary treatment but also prevention of disease, early detection, and health promotion. Veterans’ outpatients clinics typically include telehealth systems that permit veterans to maintain regular contact with their doctors at regional VA hospitals through video consultation and telemetry of health data and images.  The clinics also feature a health records system that allows the clinic to review patient records that may be stored at other VA facilities across the country.

This is very exciting news for veterans and for the Fourth District. The Fourth District is home to an estimated 84,458 veterans, one of the most densely populated areas of veterans in the nation.

I am honored to be participating in the grand opening ceremony of this facility as the keynote speaker. More details on the ceremony are here. I look forward to sharing photos from the event with you.
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Guest Hosting on WRVA
Posted by Randy | August 03, 2010

Yesterday I had the pleasure of filling in as a guest host for Jimmy Barrett on WRVA’s Richmond morning show.  I did everything from chatting with callers to reporting the traffic and weather.  If you didn’t get a chance to listen, you can hear the show here.  From there, you can listen to any of the 5 interview segments of the broadcast:

  • Backing Arizona
  • Obama Should Drop Biden
  • Virginia's Lessons for America
  • Fighting China
  • Building Up Fort Lee

 

 

 
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Veterans Discussion Forum
Posted by Randy | July 27, 2010

I have put together a "Vision for our Veterans,” a six-point plan to ensure veterans receive uncompromised care, excellence in hospital care, timely processing for disability claims, and full concurrent receipt. You can read the full plan online at forbes.house.gov/visionforvets. 

I want your feedback on veterans issues. What do you think are the most important issues impacting veterans? What ideas do you have to ensure our veterans receive their care they have been promised? Join the conversation by leaving your comments below. Keep in mind: while we may not all agree, we should all be civil in our discourse.
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Honor and Remember
Posted by Randy | June 07, 2010

This Saturday, I had the privilege to speak at the kick-off of the Honor and Remember Across America Tour. The tour will travel across 49 states to encourage support of the adoption of the Honor and Remember flag as an official symbol and tribute to those members of the Armed Forces who lost their lives while serving our nation. Virginia has already adopted the flag, and I have introduced a bill (H.R.1034) that would designate the Honor and Remember Flag as an official national symbol to recognize and honor members of the Armed Forces who have died in the line of duty.

 

Here are a few photos from Saturday’s event:







You can read the story behind the flag here.
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Video from Rolling Thunder
Posted by Randy | June 04, 2010

This Memorial Day weekend, I had the privilege of riding at the head of the Rolling Thunder Ride for Freedom in Washington, DC on behalf of our POW/MIA veterans. Over half a million veterans and supporters came out to show their commitment to these men and women.

I hope you'll take a few minutes to watch the following video that shows some highlights of the ride and the ceremony that followed at the Lincoln Memorial.
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Rolling Thunder Ride for Freedom
Posted by Randy | May 28, 2010
I’m excited to share with you that I will be riding at the head of the Rolling Thunder demonstration this Memorial Day weekend. On Sunday, I will join with Rolling Thunder Founder/Executive Director Sgt. Artie Muller and other Rolling Thunder VIPs in the annual ride to remember our nation’s Prisoners of War (POW) and those Missing in Action (MIA).  At the end of the ride, I will deliver remarks at the Reflecting Pool Program with thousands of our nation's veterans gathered together. 

Anyone familiar with Rolling Thunder knows just how honored and humbled I am to ride alongside hundreds of thousands of fellow bikers to raise awareness of our men and women who served their country and never came home.

Rolling Thunder began in 1987 when four Vietnam veterans found each other standing by the reflecting pool near the Vietnam War Memorial.  Led by Ray Manzo, Corporal USMC, the four veterans organized 2,500 fellow bikers to ride through the streets of Washington to petition the government to look for the hundreds of soldiers left behind and forgotten at the conclusion of the Vietnam War.  Just eight years later, half a million bikers descended upon the nation’s Capitol to send a message on Memorial Day Weekend: Never Forget the 88,000 Americans left behind.

I have not forgotten and I know that you have not either.  Together, let us continue to work to raise awareness of American POW/MIA and pray that one day, these brave men and women might return home.  And so, I will proudly ride with Rolling Thunder in Washington in solidarity with the silent memory of those who never made it home.  We will never forget them.

If you and your family will be in Washington, DC for Memorial Day weekend, I invite you to come out to watch the Demonstration. A map of the route is available here.
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Forbes’ Editorial Featured in AUSA News
Posted by Jessica Mancari, Communications Director | April 14, 2010

Congressman Forbes’ editorial “Vision for Veterans” recently ran in the April 2010 edition of Association of the United States Army (AUSA) News. The article details on Congressman Forbes’ six values and subsequent legislation he believes would provide world-class care and resources for our veterans.  AUSA News is a monthly newspaper reporting on subjects of direct importance to members of the U.S. Army and their families. 

You can read the article here: 
“Vision for Veterans”
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Frank Buckles
Posted by Randy | March 10, 2010

“A nation reveals itself not only by the men it produces, but also by the men it honors, the men it remembers.” – President John F. Kennedy

A couple of years ago, I wrote an editorial titled The Vanishing Generation about a man named Frank Buckles who was creating history as the last veteran of World War I. In that editorial, I talked about the importance of honoring our nation’s veterans and the importance of preserving their invaluable stories.  You can read that editorial here.

Now two years later - as Frank Buckles celebrated his 109th birthday on February 1, 2010 - I am proud to cosponsor a resolution, H.Res.1060, congratulating him as America’s last surviving WWI veteran.

Visit the Veterans History Project to learn about other ways we can honor our nation’s finest men and women in uniform.
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Honor & Remember Flag Adopted in Virginia
Posted by Randy | March 03, 2010

A few months ago, I shared with you George Lutz’s story and his vision for creating a universal symbol to recognize those men and women who have lost their lives in service of our nation.

 

We received some exciting news today that the Virginia General Assembly voted to adopt the Honor and Remember Flag as an official symbol in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Virginia is the first state in the nation to do so, and it is a significant step forward in making this an official symbol across all 50 states to collectively recognize the sacrifice made by members of the Armed Forces.

 

In addition, I have been working throughout the 111th Congress with several of my colleagues in Washington to see this flag become an official national symbol. I have introduced legislation, H.R. 1034, which would establish the Honor and Remember Flag as such. The bill has received the support of the largest military officer’s association in the country, the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA).

 

To read more about the flag, click here. 

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