“Our veterans have waited far too long for this legislation to become law, but I am glad to see that it was finally signed by the governor after he vetoed it twice previously. Memorial Day is a time to reflect and appreciate the dedication and sacrifice of our vets, and what better way to do that than to make this legislation a reality. I sponsored this bill because, as a veteran myself, I know the commitment and dedication of New York’s veterans, and this is a small token of appreciation that will further honor the military service of New York’s heroes.

“It is paramount that we allow all veterans the same access to services, regardless of which conflict or war they fought, and this law will allow them to purchase up to three years of service back from the state to count toward their retirement benefits. As a member of the Assembly Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, I will continue to fight to expand services for our vets and protect those who have protected us for so long.”