Rupp: Honoring the Heroes and Remembering the Lost

We live in a wonderful country where we have the freedom of speech, religion, and many other liberties that some across the world do not. All our rights and privileges that we possess today, however, have come at a cost and should not be taken for granted. Throughout Missouri, we have close to 550,000 veterans. These men and women have sacrificed so much for our country, and they deserve to be honored this Veterans Day on Nov. 11.

Veterans Day was first observed in Nov. 1919 when President Wilson elected Nov. 11 as the date for the national holiday, saying, "To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country's service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…"

To pay tribute and aide our state's veterans and their families, the Missouri Veterans Commission, then the State Federal Soldier's Home, was founded in 1896 and was then deeded to the State of Missouri in 1897. The organization's first objective was to assist the aging Union soldiers that served during the Civil War.

Today, the association provides many services to Missouri veterans and their families. Some of those services include possible disability, educational assistance, work-study, vocational rehabilitation and counseling, insurance, home loan, burial, survivor and employment benefits.

Many of the veterans who have not applied for benefits are the women who have served our country. The organization estimates that out of more than 36,600 female Missouri veterans, 30 to 40 percent have not applied for veteran's services. Medical support is included in these services, assisting women with disease prevention, maternity and infertility issues, and long-term care.

When a veteran has reached senior age, they may apply to reside at a Missouri Veterans Home, which provides nursing and physician assistance; physical, speech and occupational therapy; and dietary care to these admirable men and women.

I would like to thank the veterans of Missouri for protecting our freedoms and fighting for our country. I appreciate your service and dedication. I would like to show my gratitude to your families as well, for they represent our country by standing tall and proud on our home front.

Please take Nov. 11 to thank a veteran for his or her service, and always remember our soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice to keep our homeland safe and protected. For more information on the Missouri Veterans Commission, please visit www.mvc.dps.mo.gov.

If you have any questions regarding this matter or any other issues within state government, please visit my website at www.senate.mo.gov/rupp.  You can also e-mail me or call my office toll-free at (866) 271-2844.