Recently, Multnomah County formally proclaimed November 11 Veterans Day in recognition of military service. In honor of the sacrifices made by the active, reserve, and National Guard members, this day has been set aside. According to a report by Multnomah County News, Commissioner Sharon Meieran led the proclamation in collaboration with the Aging, Disability and Veterans Services Division, citing her increased respect for veterans as a result of her work with the Multnomah County Veterans Task Force.
Meieran talked about her experiences interacting with veterans on the task force and emphasized the importance of keeping up the active effort to enhance services for veterans, especially in the areas of addiction, mental health, and housing. She said in a statement released byMultnomah County News, “The role of the Veterans Task Force, established in 2010 by then-District 4 Commissioner Diane McKeel, is to raise awareness and have a place for veterans to convene and be able to talk about issues themselves, and to have a space to talk about advocacy for veterans in our community.”
Multnomah County took part in Operation Green Light, a nationwide campaign to light bridges and buildings green in honor of Veterans, as a gesture of support and unity.Meieran stated, “We let veterans know that they are seen, appreciated, and supported by lighting buildings and bridges green and to serve as a beacon to say we care about you, there are services for you, here s what we have, please come to us.”
A number of speakers with ties to the soldiers Task Force described their dedication to helping soldiers and their families during the proclamation. While Kristine O. Brien spoke about the value of community in preventing veteran suicide, Nina Sparrs talked about the task force’s work in addressing veteran homelessness. According to the official news release, Multnomah County’s Veterans Services program supervisor Sheila Balbin talked about her personal connection to the veteran community and how her team was able to win $6.5 million in retroactive benefits for veterans.
The importance of the declaration was further highlighted by the county leaders’ personal testimonies. Chair Jessica Vega Pederson concluded by highlighting the need of guaranteeing veterans’ access to essential resources, while Commissioner Lori Stegmann, an American adoptee who was born in South Korea, specifically thanked Korean War veterans. In addition to honoring veterans, the day reaffirmed the county’s commitment to improving their support in areas including housing, health care, benefits, and jobs.
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