Issue Position: Our Military and Veterans

Three military installations are located in LD 13. Luke Air Force Base, Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, and the Yuma Proving Grounds. These are all stellar installations providing exemplary training for our men and women in the armed forces.

In my family there have been numerous members who have served in the various armed services. On my father's side, five consecutive generations of servicemen dating back to the Civil War have served our country. The latest member, my nephew, completed his service last May at the Marine Air Corps Station in Yuma.

I am deeply proud of all of our service men and women and remain extremely grateful for their unselfish willingness to sacrifice so much of themselves and their families to serve and defend our country.

We cannot forget those who gave their lives defending our precious freedom and the families they left behind, nor can we thank them enough, but we can always honor and remember their sacrifices. Freedom is certainly not free.

Being the daughter of a veteran who served at the end of WWII and fought in the Korean War, I know all too well how our veterans suffer not only from debilitating physical wounds but also from the wounds which cannot be seen and may never completely heal. Their families suffer along with them in ways that are difficult to describe. It is imperative that we provide all the necessary support they have earned and deserve. Whether it is medical care and benefits, or educational opportunities, we must give them our very best.

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