The new Vietnam Veterans Memorial Park located on the SUNY Schenectady campus is the first park in Schenectady County to honor our brave local heroes, a milestone that is long overdue. It was an honor to be a part of the unveiling ceremony and have the opportunity to express my gratitude to the more than 8,500 veterans who call Schenectady home.

Many of the military members who fought in the Vietnam War continued to face physical and emotional battles when they returned home from service. Often, they struggled with service-related injuries and disabilities as well as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health issues. And, unfortunately, these veterans did not receive the same recognition or support as those who came before them. That’s why this memorial is so meaningful and necessary, as it shows our local Vietnam veterans that they have a place here in our community and that we will never forget their courage and sacrifice.

Having served in our nation’s armed forces, there’s nothing more important to me than ensuring our service members receive the assistance and respect they more than deserve. As your state representative, I’ve remained committed to being a voice for our veterans as a long-standing member of the Assembly Veterans’ Affairs Committee. In this role, I’ve worked to secure important funding to help these men and women transition back to civilian life, including expanding access to resources, assisting in job searches and providing new opportunities for them in their communities.

This memorial is a small gesture of our appreciation for all that our veterans have done to keep our country safe. It’s my hope that it reminds us to of the men and women in our community who put their lives on the line for our freedoms and to never take them for granted.