In recognition of Veterans Day this week, the state GOP is using its weekly message to highlight an organization that helps members of the military this time of year.
Judy Travis – founder of Stockings for Soldiers – delivered the message. She asked that people remember the nation’s vets beyond Tuesday by helping them overcome the challenges they face once they leave the military.
“One of the greatest ways we can honor their service is to ensure that they receive the ongoing public services they need to return from active duty and have the healthcare, job training and educational benefits our nation has committed to providing them in return for their service,” Travis said.
Travis also asked for volunteers and donations to her Stocking for Soliders program, which each year sends thousands of hand sewn Christmas stockings filled with small gifts overseas to active military personnel.
Full text of GOP weekly message:
"My name is Judy Travis and I am the head of Stockings for Soldiers, a 501 c 3 non-profit organization dedicated to improving the morale and welfare of members of the United States military. I’d like to thank the Delaware Republican Party for donating this time to allow me to talk about our organization.
"Throughout the Presidential campaign we’ve heard a great deal about the safety and security of our nation, and the many threats to freedom and democracy across the globe. I hope that debate will continue far beyond Election Day in 2016 because it is an important conversation.
"Yet, as voters talk about these big picture issues we must never forget that there are millions of men and women, like my son who served in the Middle East, who have fought to keep our nation free, and there are many who continue to do so today. Day in and day out, these men and women accept the awesome responsibility laying their lives on the line for our families.
"The millions who have returned from active duty face continue to face challenges that most of us can not fathom, and they deserve not only to be honored this Veterans Day, but they deserve our unending gratitude and support for their service. One of the greatest ways we can honor their service is to ensure that they receive the ongoing public services they need to return from active duty and have the healthcare, job training and educational benefits our nation has committed to providing them in return for their willingness to lay their lives on the line. These are important issues, and all Americans should demand that our government, regardless of the party in power, honor those commitments.
"I hope you will join me in honoring our veterans this year, by committing to taking a moment of silence on Wednesday, November 11th at 11 am to pray for these amazing men and women.
"I’d also like to ask you to do something else.
"Stockings for Soldiers works hard every year to send a ‘touch of home’ to our active military by hand sewing Christmas stockings, filling them with small gifts donated by folks like you and I, and sending them overseas to active military personnel. We’re already in full swing preparing this years stockings for shipment in November and early December, and I am asking for your help. Not only do we need your financial help, but we need volunteers who are willing to roll up their sleeves and help stuff stockings and pack them for shipment.
"If you are willing to volunteer your time I ask that you visit our website www.stockingsforsoldiers.org and do anything you can to help make this years program a success.
Thank you."