Veterans March at the Capitol FRIDAY
March 14 @ 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
This march is nationwide and New Mexico is participating.
We want you there!
What: Peaceful gathering to raise awareness of planned drastic cuts that would hurt our fellow veterans and their families.
When: Friday, 14 March, at noon until 1pm.
Where: Santa Fe at the West Concourse of the Round House Capital building. The side with steps and across the street from the free parking structure. 490 Old Santa Fe Trail.
Who: All who support our veterans are welcome to join us.
Wear: It’s gonna be cold, bundle up. Wear winter coats and warm boots/shoes. Display your military service affiliation gear. Wear patches, hats, and pins. Hold flags.
Why: A show of strength brings attention to our plight. The legislature is still in session. Our legislators are hard working, they care, and they are supportive. We stand together.
What else: Spread the word. Share this newsletter – CLICK HERE. Call your friends, carpool, let’s do this!
In New Mexico we love, respect, and honor our veterans. Culturally, New Mexicans have a high propensity to serve — our country, our communities, and our families. Historically, the Navajo Code Talkers from New Mexico played a unique and critical role in securing America’s victory in WWII. Today, our state is home to four military bases with 21,852 active duty service members and 20,431 family members. They are our neighbors. We welcome them. They are part of our community.
There are 123,000 veterans living in our 33 counties and many rely on the VA for their healthcare. Without a fully functioning VA our veterans would not have access to the benefits and services earned through their military service. Veterans put their lives on the line to serve the country they love, too many didn’t come home, some came home with lifelong disabilities. The VA treats veterans for conditions related to their military service, provides disability compensation for injuries incurred during their service, provides education assistance and home loans to help them integrate back into society, and provides burial benefits to help their families when they are no longer able.
The administration, through the guise of “efficiency”, has plans to cut 83,000 jobs at the VA. This is a travesty for the dedicated VA workers and for our veterans who will pay the price. When I served on active duty I was told we needed to be effective, to get the mission done, to take care of our Sailors and bring them all home. All branches of the military had the same guidance, the same goals, the same values. Efficiency was never a measure of effectiveness. That’s not how the military provides national security.
The bottom line is that when you have less, you do less. Doing more with less is not sustainable – it’s a cliché. It’s a lie. We deserve better.
