Veterans Day is a day dedicated to thanking the men and women who have made countless sacrifices for our country. This Veterans Day, I urge you to join me in remembering those who fought and died and those who served and returned.

Earlier this year, I honored U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Eric Trueblood as the 2011 Veteran of the Year of the 16th Assembly District. He bravely served as a mechanic, security to United Nation dignitaries and a Humvee roof gunner. In defending our country, Staff Sgt. Trueblood was killed in Afghanistan. He was 27 years old. Donald Trueblood, Eric’s father, accepted the honor on his son’s behalf. To read more about Staff Sgt. Trueblood, please click here.

We must continue to honor the memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice by giving the living service members and their families the respect they deserve and access to the services they need. With more than two million veterans living in the state of California, I feel strongly that we need to provide returning veterans or surviving family members the tools they need to succeed in civilian life.

For more information about California’s programs and services for veterans and state legislation impacting veterans, please visit www.calvet.ca.gov or contact my District Office at (510) 286-1670.

Sincerely,
Sandré R. Swanson
Assemblymember, 16th District