This week the West Virginia Legislature celebrated Veterans Visibility Day. Resolutions were adopted in both the House of Delegates and Senate to honor West Virginia’s citizens who dedicated their lives to service for this country and state. West Virginia has more citizens per capita who have served in the United States Armed Forces than any other state. Veterans Visibility Day was designated to honor the past, current and future veterans of the state.
Senator Erik Wells, Chairman of the Senate Military Committee said, “We owe our democracy to the men and women who have been willing to serve during both times of war and peace. So when we honor our veterans, we are indeed honoring our democracy and the freedoms we enjoy.”
Delegate Richard Iaquinta, Chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, said “The importance of this day is to learn about our history so that we don’t make the same mistakes.”
During a ceremony in the House of Delegates Chamber, Adjutant General of the West Virginia National Guard General James Hoyer spoke to those in attendance, including many, many West Virginia veterans.
“Our children have had the opportunity to do anything and be anything they wanted to be because of the service and sacrifice of people like you,” Hoyer said.
During the 2012 Regular Session, legislators have proposed numerous bills and resolutions seeking to honor and support the lives of veterans. The content of each strive to act on issues that would address and recognize specific issues facing veterans of wars and conflicts as well as those current serving in the Armed Forces.
House Bill 4433, which passed in the House on February 20 and awaits action by the Senate, would award a high school diploma to any surviving veteran of World War II, the Korean and Vietnam Wars as well as any other conflict or war that West Virginia has authorized a bonus. Diplomas would be awarded to those who left school prior to graduation to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces, who did not receive a high school diploma and who were honorably discharged.
“Veterans really appreciate this bill because they left to support our country during the Vietnam and Korean Wars, fulfilling their duties as citizens, yet want to finish high school but couldn’t,” said Delegate Iaquinta.
Another bill, Senate Bill 152, which is in the Senate Finance Committee, would deal with unemployment benefits of certain spouses of military personnel. The bill specifies if a spouse quits his/her job to be with his/her military spouse who has been reassigned as a part of his/her service, that spouse would not be disqualified from unemployment benefits. A House version of this bill has already been passed by that body.
“The hardest job in the military is that of the military spouse,” said Senator Wells. “This bill allows the spouse to collect unemployment and the spouse’s former employer is not charged. Many states provide this for military spouses and most times, the military spouse returns to the workforce quickly.”
Delegate Iaquinta added, “A military spouse is just like a civilian spouse. If a young man or women is working in West Virginia and his/her spouse was not in the military they would get it so we think they deserve it just like anybody else.”
Meetings will continue during the interim meetings and work related to studying returning veterans and looking at how war may or may not have affected them will also continue.
Senator Wells said, “I’m proud the Legislature agreed to continue a study on returning veterans and the psychological impact the war may or may not have had on them. This was not a bill, but was requested by the Interim Veterans Affairs Committee and agreed to by the Joint Committee.”
Recognizing the commitment of West Virginia veterans and members of the military has always been a top priority of the West Virginia Legislature. Lawmakers will continue to work to pass legislation to lighten the burdens West Virginia soldiers and their families are dealing with as they serve their state and country around the world.
