VETERANS PLATFORM

Our nation is at war and patriotic Kentuckians are united in their strong support of the men and women in uniform who proudly serve our nation with distinction. Their dedication to the principles of freedom and willingness to serve are no different than those who rallied to the similar causes in past wars and conflicts. The sacrifices of these gallant soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines and their families are recognized and today America's veterans are held in high esteem. We have an obligation to strongly support those who have served, and continue today to serve, in America's Armed Forces.

Kentucky has an unrivaled heritage of military service and the 360,000 veterans residing in the state deserve only the best from their government leaders. Extensive activation of the Kentucky National Guard and Army Reserve units for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq increase this number substantially and adds to the complex issues confronting the state's veterans. Their needs should and will be met under a Beshear/Mongiardo administration.

I PLEDGE TO:

• Work cooperatively with the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs to make health care for Kentucky veterans a top priority and assure the proper level of funding and staffing for each of the state's long-term care veteran homes. The elderly residents of these facilities deserve the best available care and respect from those who care for them. We will correct the current under funding of this program which is denying Kentucky veterans an opportunity to be cared for as promised when the facilities were built.

• Support the construction of a NEW veteran's nursing home in the Louisville/Jefferson County area.

• Support the continued expansion of state-operated cemeteries to provide our veterans the respect of a dignified burial in a place of honor.

• Recognize the substantial contributions of the men and women who are serving today in military uniform to preserve freedom in a turbulent world. We will insure that they have readily accessible opportunities to obtain all federal and state benefits earned by their military service. Timely and consistent communication will be aggressively pursued with this group to insure a complete understanding of the complex problems confronted by them and every effort will be made to determine the best solutions.