American Legion hosts first annual Veterans Service Awards

American Legion Post 739 hosted the first annual Veterans Service Awards with California State Senator Jeff Stone to honor Veterans for their service and continued contributions to the local community.

“They’re just heroes. I see freedom, I see the love of their country, I see the love of their community, I see their service to their country,” says Indio Mayor Glenn Miller.

Six Veterans from the Coachella Valley were chosen as award winners by their fellow service members.

“I think as a government representative we need to do more for our Veterans and show our appreciation to them for their selfless service to our country and our nation, and I think this is a very good opportunity for us to show our local appreciation,” says Senator Stone.

With primary elections around the corner, Senator Stone hopes to see Veterans issues at the forefront of political concern.

“Our Veteran’s administration is completely broken. We need to privatize I think the Veteran’s administration,” says Senator Stone, “Let’s move all our Veteran’s into medicare so they can choose a local physician to see them so they don’t have to wait 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 months to get the medical care they need. We have people dying waiting for medical care, and I think it’s reprehensible and we need to fix it.”

“A lot of Veterans reached out to us on housing issues or benefit issues maybe not related to their health that they feel they deserve and aren’t able to get because of the red tape,” says Mayor Miller.

Both Senator Stone and Mayor Miller say they will support presidential candidates who show the most support for Veterans issues.

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