Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder Press Releases
July 20, 2011
Lt. Governor Kinder Vows to Honor Commitment to Missouri Veterans
He promises to keep state's Veterans Homes 'well-staffed and well-funded'
ST. JAMES - Lieutenant Governor Peter D. Kinder today told residents and staff at the Missouri Veterans Home in St. James that the state will keep its commitments to veterans, despite funding challenges.
Lt. Governor Kinder said he intends to work with the Missouri Legislature to ensure all seven Missouri Veterans Homes continue to be “well-staffed and well-funded” for many years to come.
“There are challenges in the state’s budget, but we’re going to step up and meet the challenges,” he said. “You stepped up when it counted to give your service to your country, and I have no duty that’s more important than honoring that service.”
On Wednesday, Kinder toured and met with staff and residents at the St. James Veterans Home. On Monday, he held a listening session at the Cape Girardeau Veterans Home, and last week he went to the Veterans Homes in St. Louis, Mexico and Warrensburg.
“These Veterans Homes are tremendous points of pride for their communities, for their residents and for the staff,” Kinder said. “It’s truly my honor to get to see so many veterans who gave their service to our country.
“It’s important that we in Missouri not only honor those men and women who answered the call to serve in World War II, Korea and Vietnam, but to meet the needs of the next wave of veterans who today are answering the call to serve in Afghanistan and Iraq.”
Lt. Governor Kinder long has been an advocate for veterans. In 2005, he proposed and helped pass the Missouri Military Family Relief Fund. He also helped to form and was chairman of the former Governor’s Advisory Council for Veterans Affairs, which identified benefits for and ways to improve the delivery of services to Missouri’s veterans.