SALEM, MA – Representative John Keenan (D-Salem), a vocal advocate for Massachusetts veterans, spoke this morning at a special ceremony at Salem High School commemorating Veterans’ Day and delivered a state proclamation for the occasion.  He talked about the importance of Veterans’ Day and described some of the significant accomplishments achieved during the past legislative session on behalf of veterans.

Representative Keenan this coming week will begin reaching out to colleagues to ask them to join with him in advocating to the Registry of Motor Vehicles to create a wartime service license plate decal for veterans of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Currently, all Massachusetts veterans are eligible for a special veterans’ license plate for their vehicles, and veterans who served in wars dating back to World War II can receive a special wartime decal for the plate, denoting their service during combat.  The RMV does not yet offer these decals for veterans returning from the war on terror, however.  “While the war is not yet concluded, we have men and women in uniform returning from service overseas on the front lines every week,” pointed out Representative Keenan, “This is a small but important way by which we can further recognize and pay tribute to their service.  I hope the RMV will consider issuing these decals as soon as possible.”

A copy of Representative Keenan’s remarks as prepared follows:

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Thank you for inviting me here again.  It’s an honor to be with you on such a solemn and important day.

“I think I have done more than I was ever expected to, and I'm not done yet. As a matter of fact I'm just getting started.”

Those words were written by Sergeant Benjamin Mejia of Salem, a member of the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team.  Sergeant Mejia was one sixty-eight Massachusetts soldiers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001.

On this eleventh day of the eleventh month every year, we set aside time to honor those who have worn that uniform – those whose actions defend our country.  We set aside time to recognize, in humble gratitude, the debt we owe them – the over half a million service men and women in our Commonwealth.  Today’s veterans – all of you here today – and your families, are living reminders of the importance of loyalty and patriotism.  You choose freely to give of yourselves in order to preserve and protect the lives and freedoms of others, often total strangers.  In return, we, as a society, must do for you – in the words of Sergeant Mejia – more than we are expected to.

I’m proud of the strong record of the Massachusetts legislature when it comes to supporting our troops and our veterans.  We passed the Connolly Act, named in memory of the late Representative Ed Connolly, himself a veteran and a devoted advocate on behalf of his fellow veterans.  It delivers relief to thousand of veterans and military families by increasing property and excise tax breaks for the first time since 1997.  It includes a new five-year, 100% property tax abatement for surviving military spouses.

Last year we passed the Welcome Home Bill, which increased the annual annuities for disabled veterans, surviving spouses, and parents who lost a child in combat, created a tax-free $1,000 bonus for men and women in uniform who were called up for active duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, and waived tuition and fees at all state and community colleges for Massachusetts National Guard Members.

We’ve granted cities and towns the local option to suspend property tax payments due by National Guardmembers, Reservists, and their dependents while they are on active duty for up until six months after that duty is complete.

Through “Operation Recognition” we’ve given veterans from World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War who left school before graduating to serve overseas, the ability to receive their High School diplomas.

We increased the Massachusetts National Guard death benefit from $5,000 to $100,000 and expanded the beneficiaries to include both parents and spouses.

Now, for the first time, when you file your state income taxes this year, you can make a voluntary donation directly to the Massachusetts Military Family Relief Fund on your tax return.

We passed a law to protect the pay of public employees who are serving in the military and another to provide 50% coverage of monthly life insurance premiums for National Guard members on policies worth up to $400,000.

We created the “Gold Star” license plate, available for free, to parents, spouses, and children of members of the military killed in combat.

We increased the disability retirement pension for some veterans, boosted the pay for National Guard Members who are called up for state active duty, and extended to surviving spouses the right to retain and register their veteran’s license plate.  And we’ve lobbied Congress to ensure mandatory funding of veterans’ health care and to reject the federal government’s plans to revoke its promise to provide veterans with health benefits for life.

Despite all of these accomplishments, however, I’m drawn back to the words Sergeant Mejia wrote.  We, as a legislature, as a Commonwealth, and as a society, cannot let this be the end of our compassion and our efforts on behalf of our veterans.  Rather, we must be just getting started.  Thank you and God bless the Commonwealth.