Honoring America's Veterans

Straight Talk with Sam

On November 11th, we celebrate all the men and women who have bravely served our country, both during times of war and peace. Their sacrifices are far greater than many will ever make. That's why we commit to fulfilling our promises to them-while they serve and after they come home.

North Missouri is blessed by a rich history of patriots who have served our country throughout history and continue to do so today. We are forever grateful.

One of the most notable is General Omar Bradley, a native of Moberly-our nation's last five-star General. He led American forces on D-Day and was tasked with leading the largest fighting force in World War II. He easily could have let that be his legacy, but he had much more to give.

World War II was barely over, with millions of veterans returning home when General Bradley was tasked by President Truman with overseeing the Veteran's Administration (VA). The organization had never seen the likes of what it was about to face. Still, Bradley was up to the job, transforming the VA into an organization capable of caring for the millions of veterans returning from Europe and the Pacific. Focusing on the veteran's needs, Bradley pushed to modernize the agency, improving medical programs and training to meet the needs of the vast number of veterans returning from World War II.

While his time there was short as he quickly went on to become the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the magnitude of change he implemented was great. He successfully pushed Congress to reform the VA and implemented many programs including the GI Bill and many loan and disability programs. The improvements he oversaw were ultimately critical in ensuring that our veterans were able to return from the war and successfully move forward in life.

Undoubtedly, General Bradley received most of his accolades during his time in the military. Yet, his service to the VA had an incredible impact on our veterans and our country.

While the VA certainly has its share of flaws, as every government agency does, we're always looking for ways to improve it and ensure that the folks at the VA are working in the best interest of our veterans. That's my commitment, and my office is always available should a veteran encounter an issue with the VA or any other federal agency.

We are indebted to those who have served our country. I'm grateful for all who have answered the call of duty. Join me in celebrating their sacrifice and patriotism.

Sincerely,

Sam Graves