Veterans Day: Thank You To All Who Have Served Or Are Serving

11.11.2011

Veterans Day: Thank You To All Who Have Served Or Are Serving

I wanted to take a moment to recognize the Veterans of our armed forces. TSA employs a large number of Veterans, me included. I was in the U.S. Army’s 3rd Armored Division from 1988 -1991 and was stationed in Frankfurt, Germany. I also took a little 6 month trip to Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Kuwait. I prefer Germany…

I served three years, but a friend of mine who joined the same time as I did, recently retired. It’s amazing how many places he’s been the last 20 years and how decked out his uniform is.  He and many others have made a lot of sacrifices and we should take a few moments, especially today, to think about all of the men and women who have served or are serving our country.

There are thousands of stories to tell from many of TSA and DHS’s Veterans, but here are a few I know of that I can share with you now.

This great story talks about how some of TSA’s Veterans are taking care of wounded soldiers as a part of the Wounded Warrior Escort Program.Wounded Warrior Escort program eases air travel for veterans

Here’s an opinion piece from News-Press.com from the Federal Security Director for the Southwest Florida International Airport and the Charlotte County Airport. He explains in his story how he feels the war front prepared him for a career with TSA.

Here’s a great story/video about a TSA employee and an Iraq War Veteran who served two tours with the U.S. Air Force and is now a handler for an explosive-detection dog at Denver’s DIA airport. Qualls and Rhoden:Working to keep DIA safe

DHS Deputy Secretary Jane Holl Lute is an Army Veteran and she has a post up today at the White House Blog about DHS employees who have served in the military. The Department of Homeland Security's Commitment to Veterans

Thank you to all who have served or are serving. 

Blogger Bob Burns

TSA Blog Team

If you’d like to comment on an unrelated topic you can do so in our Off Topic Comments post. You can also view our blog post archives or search our blog to find a related topic to comment in. If you have a travel related issue or question that needs an immediate answer, you can contact a Customer Support Manager at the airport you traveled, or will be traveling through by using Talk to TSA.

Labels: Blogger Bob, veterans, Wounded Warriors

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A Message from Obama for America

Editor / Blogger's Note: Anyone else notice how "Obama for America" is in the forefront all of a sudden and "Organizing for America" is not as loud anymore?

Today is Veterans Day -- and it's a special one. Yesterday, the Senate passed the President's jobs plan to help veterans find work after returning home. It's a huge victory for the men and women who served with honor and distinction, and in many cases put their lives on the line for us. So let's join the Senate in honoring veterans today -- write a quick note to say thank you. We'll be sharing some of your words on our blog and social networks this weekend. This wouldn't have happened without your persistence and the President's refusal to take no for an answer. That's why he insisted on Congress voting on parts of the American Jobs Act -- one by one -- until they finally did the right thing. The two bills that the Senate passed yesterday, the Returning Heroes and Wounded Warrior Tax Credits, will give businesses up to $9,600 back for hiring veterans who are out of work or who have service-related disabilities. That's on top of new career resources that the President announced this week to support the more than 850,000 unemployed veterans living here at home, and more than a million returning from Iraq and Afghanistan in the next few months and years. One of the highest duties we share as Americans is to serve the men and women who've served us. We simply couldn't wait for these commonsense steps to help our veterans. And thanks to Democrats and Republicans in the Senate putting country before party, we won't need to. I hope you'll join me in saying thank you to our veterans by sending them a personal note this Veterans Day: http://my.barackobama.com/Thank-Our-Veterans Of course, the fight for jobs is far from over, but yesterday proved that Congress can still come together to do the right thing when Americans demand it. So let's keep the pressure on. Thanks, Messina Jim Messina Campaign Manager Obama for America

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The White House Weekly Address

Your Daily Snapshot for Saturday, November 12, 2011

Weekly Address: Honoring Our Veterans for Their Service and Sacrifice President Obama speaks from the USS Carl Vinson in San Diego during Veterans Day and calls on all Americans to rededicate themselves to serving our brave men and women in uniform as well as they have served us. Watch the video. Weekly Wrap Up Jobs for Veterans:  On Monday President Obama announced the launch of a suite of new tools designed to help our veterans transition more easily into the workforce. The Veterans Job Bank, which will help put our veterans in contact with companies that appreciate their skills and are eager to hire them, has more than 550,000 job postings from military-friendly employers and is continuing to grow. On Thursday, the First Lady joined the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to announce that a range of businesses have committed to hire 100,000 veterans and military spouses by 2014. Later that day the Senate approved the Wounded Warrior and Returning Heroes tax credits, provisions of the American Jobs Act which will offer businesses a $9,600 tax credit for hiring disabled veterans and create additional tax credits for employers who hire veterans who have spent four weeks or more out of work. Honoring our Veterans: Friday morning President Obama honored the millions of Americans who have served in our nation's military by laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. In his speech the President called for all Americans to commit to helping our vets when they return home: "So on this Veterans Day, let us commit ourselves to keep making sure that our veterans receive the care and benefits that they have earned; the opportunity they defend and deserve; and above all, let us welcome them home as what they are -- an integral, essential part of our American family." Head Start: President Obama announced historic reforms to the Head Start program that will require all Head Start grantees that fail to meet a new set of rigorous quality benchmarks to compete for continued federal funding. These changes are designed to ensure that all children in Head Start are attending top-notch programs that will help them reach their full potential.  Saving You Money: President Obama signed an Executive Order telling Federal agencies to cut their spending on travel, printing, and IT by 20 percent, which will save billions of dollars. This initiative is only one part of the administration-wide Campaign to Cut Waste, headed by Vice President Joe Biden that promises to eliminate government waste, save taxpayer dollars and make government work more efficiently. The President also announced the four finalists in the SAVE Award, an annual contest for federal employees to submit their ideas for cutting costs by making government more efficient. Submit your vote for your favorite idea today.

Mark's Minute: November 11, 2011

Mark's Minute: November 11, 2011  Remembering Our Veterans Greetings! Thanks for taking the time to read my newsletter. My staff and I use this free communication tool as a way to stay in touch with constituents and provide you with what I hope is useful information. Veterans Day represents a special day in which our nation pays tribute to those who have served our country in uniform. I join millions of other Americans and give thanks for their contributions and their sacrifice, which helped to provide America with freedom and democracy for more than 200 years. We all must keep these brave men and women in our thoughts and prayers and thank them for everything they have done for our country. No matter where they served or what position they held or how long they wore a uniform, let us not forget that our veterans risked their lives for us as they spread the causes of liberty and freedom. For that, every veteran deserves our deepest respect and thanks. Their courage, dedication and commitment, combined with their many selfless sacrifices, are what we honor this and every Veterans Day. I am especially proud of the New York State residents who wore our country's uniform. These hometown heroes did their share to protect this country. They make me proud each and every day. To properly pay tribute to all of our veterans, we must honor their sacrifice by never forgetting their service. We must do everything we can to make sure they get the benefits, health care and support they deserve and have rightfully earned. I have worked on various pieces of legislation during my time as a member of the New York State Senate to pass bills that protect and support our veterans. It is something that I am passionate about and will continue to focus on during my time as a senator. Finally, while Veterans Day is a time to honor our past heroes, let us not forget those members of our country's Armed Forces who are currently serving. There are hundreds of thousands of troops who are overseas, including many New Yorkers, who currently stand in harm's way. They and their families remain in my thoughts and prayers because it is their heroism and valor that deserves our deepest gratitude. God Bless America! Please feel free to stay in touch and do not hesitate at any time to contact my staff in our Grand Island and Niagara Falls satellite offices or the district office in the W.J. Mahoney State Office Building in downtown Buffalo. For more information on anything related to the 60th District, you can send me an e-mail at: buffalo.grisanti@gmail.com or call 854-8705. Thanks for reading! Mark  Getting Back To Work... Exchanging Helmets For Hard Hats On Veterans Day 2011, Senator Mark Grisanti, member of the Veterans, Military Affairs and Homeland Security Committee, is introducing a bill that not only helps Veterans get back to work, but also benefits employers for hiring those Veterans. " I have talked with many Veterans here locally and throughout the state, and what I am hearing from them is that they are returning home from serving our country to a struggling job market and no jobs," said Senator Grisanti. "I plan to fix this, there has been enough grandstanding around the issue. This legislation provides relief to employers and opportunities for hard working Veterans to return home with a job." The legislation calls for any employer who hires a Veteran that works at least 35 hours and remains employed for over one year to receive a $3,000 tax credit.  If the Veteran was wounded in service then it would be a $4,000 credit. "With the future passage of this legislation, this will ensure that Veterans who risk their lives for our freedom will have a real economic opportunity when they come back into the workforce," said Grisanti. Additionally President Obama announced that all troops will be out of Iraq by December,  The U.S. has already withdrawn more than 100,000 troops from Iraq. And Obama says the last 40,000 will be leaving by the end of this year. David Bellavia enlisted in the United States Army in July 1999 and served for six years and earned the rank of Staff Sergeant. He led a squad of men in combat. He was awarded the Silver Star for his actions during the Second Battle of Fallujah and received the Bronze Star and the New York State Conspicuous Service Cross. "While so many in Washington and Albany play hamlet with veterans issues, Senator Grisanti's "get it done"  approach is urgently needed," said Bellavia. "These men and women have bled for us on the battlefield. We owe them the opportunity to exchange their helmets for hard hats. Senator Mark Grisanti is doing just that," said Bellavia. In Western New York, an estimated 900 Veterans under the age of 30 are unemployed, the numbers have not been released on how many of the 40,000 troops are from Western New York.  "In light of the President's announcement and given the problem that already exists with unemployed veterans in our community, we must be proactive with legislation to ensure our veterans have an opportunity gain employment. Putting people back to work is one of my top  in the upcoming legislative session." Putting People First! Not Politics.  We raised over $3,700 during our T-Shirt special in the month of October. We mailed out close to 150 shirts to friends around Western New York. Thank you to everyone for the support!     Listening Sessions Scheduled For December Grand Island  Tuesday, December 6.   Grand Island High School, 1100 Ransom Road  6 to 7:30 pm. Contact: Senator Grisanti's satellite office in Grand Island at 773-9600, ext. 654 or send an e-mail to: grandisland.grisanti@gmail.com      North Buffalo  Thursday, December 8.  North Buffalo Community Center,203 Sanders Road   6 to 7:30 pm. Contact: Call Senator Grisanti's office in Buffalo at 854-8705 or send an e-mail to: buffalo.grisanti@gmail.com   These Listening Session are an opportunity for constituents to hear from their representative in Albany. Senator Grisanti will be speaking about his ideas for reforming our state government.   Attendees will be able to ask questions and express their concerns about their community. Both session are free to the public with no cost to taxpayers.  Recent Headlines NIAGARA GAZETTE: Grisanti supports Robert Moses Parkway removal efforts Transformation journey brings $8.3 million in upgrades to Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center  Horizon Health, Niagara Falls Memorial announce groundbreaking integrated care program  Governor Cuomo launches program to incentivize improvements in student performance BUFFALO NEWS: Turkish Cultural Center hosts dinner to promote peace, understanding TONAWANDA NEWS: What's on the line for Niagara Falls? Use of social media saves money  Be sure to stay connected by clicking on these links. We plan to continue to use social media tools and other free ways of sharing information with constituents. Feel free to forward this e-mail to a friend who may be interested in reading it. Thank you again for all of your support!  Follow Senator Grisanti on Facebook and Twitter Thanks for reading. Please stay in touch! Mark

Statement by John Morton Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

"ICE mourns the loss of Secretary Francisco Blake Mora and our Mexican law enforcement colleagues who passed away in this tragic helicopter crash. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families and those serving within Mexico's Interior Ministry.

"We will never forget their sacrifice, dedication to public safety and service to the people of Mexico. ICE will continue the tremendous partnership we have built with Mexico that Secretary Blake Mora personified."