Veterans Set to Play Historic Role at Boston Convention

Article continues below...

Veterans Set to Play Historic Role at Boston Convention

Over 500 Veteran Delegates to Attend; Veterans to Speak, Take Part in the Program and Satellite In; Thousands More Poised to Help Elect a ‘Brother in Arms’
July 20, 2004
Kerry Campaign Press Release

Washington, DC -- With six days to go before Democrats gather in Boston for the 2004 Democratic National Convention, the Kerry - Edwards campaign announced today that next week’s convention will be marked by a record level of involvement from veterans working hard to elect a ‘brother in arms’ as President of the United States. Starting Wednesday and continuing until the final gavel down, veterans will rally and organize around John Kerry and his pledge to build a stronger America by never breaking our country’s commitment to those who wear our uniform.Leading the charge will be Kerry’s Vietnam crewmates. In addition to participating in the program on Thursday night before Kerry accepts the Democratic nomination, they will take part in events throughout the city, including stopping at the New England Shelter for Homeless Veterans and the Veterans’ Benefit Clearinghouse, an organization established in 1977 to address the needs of Vietnam era veterans of color returning to civilian life in Boston.

“Next week, veterans from across the country will gather in Boston – the city where our first American soldiers fought – and make history as veterans once again,” said former Georgia Senator and the first ever Honorary Veterans Convention Chair Max Cleland, who will introduce John Kerry on Thursday night.

Over 500 veterans will attend the convention as delegates – a Democratic party record. Thousands more veterans will attend pre-convention rallies, take part in a veterans motorcycle ride from California to Boston and join John Kerry and John Edwards as they blaze America’s Freedom Trail to the convention and campaign for the White House in the following months.

“John Kerry has made veterans and military families a priority in this campaign,” said Kerry National Vets Coordinator John Hurley. “We have veterans organizations in all fifty states, and as Election Day approaches, these organizations grow stronger every day. The Democratic party is the party of inclusion, and we are proud to have such a strong veterans presence at this year’s convention.”

For the first time ever, veterans caucus meetings will be called to order during the week of the convention. The meetings will feature leading veterans from across the country and provide a forum to discuss issues important to veterans, as well as provide training on grassroots organizing for participants to put into action in their own communities.

In addition, veterans will fan out and speak at caucus meetings for all 50 states.

On Monday, David Alston will be a featured speaker. A former crewmate of Kerry’s, Alston will address the convention, relaying his experience serving with John Kerry. On Wednesday, Retired Marine Lt. Col. Steve Brozak, a candidate for Congress in New Jersey, will speak from the podium about the Kerry-Edwards plan for a stronger, more secure America.

Also on Wednesday, more than 50 veterans will gather at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post in Denver, CO. They will be participating in a primetime satellite that will be broadcast live into the convention hall.

Other notable pre-convention and convention veterans activities include:

* July 21: Steve Brozak holds a Veterans Rally in Woodbridge, NY at the Woodbridge Memorial Park.
* July 20-23: Kerry crewmate Jim Rassmann hits the campaign trail meeting veterans and military families Monday and Tuesday in Nevada and Wednesday and Thursday in Arizona.
* July 27: The Kerry-Edwards campaign highlights John Kerry’s lifetime of strength and service in Norfolk, VA, featuring Skip Barker, Vietnam Veteran and Swift Boat Captain, and other veterans
* July 21-29: Veterans for Kerry join labor organizers and supporters riding motorcycles from California to Boston, making stops in: CA, UT, CO, MO, IL, WV, VA, PA.

The convention itself will feature a special exhibit to highlight John Kerry’s service, as well as honor veterans. Called “John Kerry: A Lifetime of Strength and Service,” this photo exhibit will be on display inside the FleetCenter and includes photos taken by John Kerry’s crewmates.

“As President, John Kerry will always keep the faith with those who have worn the uniform of the United States,” said Hurley. “You will see the Kerry-Edwards commitment to veterans at this convention, and you will see it throughout a Kerry-Edwards administration.”

John Kerry will keep America’s promise to our veterans. His plan includes mandatory funding for VA healthcare to ensure that all of America’s veterans are properly cared for including the 500,000 veterans who are currently excluded from the system under George Bush. Kerry supports full concurrent receipt which will provide disabled military retirees their full pensions.

Kerry’s campaign has set a goal of organizing 1 million veterans by Election Day. Recruited through the 50 state-level Veterans for Kerry organizations, these 1 million veterans will be used in grassroots, veteran-to-veteran operations, including phone-banks, canvassing and GOTV efforts.

Keeping Faith with America’s Military, Their Families and Our Veterans

“I make this simple pledge: If I am president, I will fight for a constant standard of decency and respect for those who serve their country in our armed forces – on active duty and as veterans. It should be no other way and if I am president, it will be no other way.” -- John Kerry

John Kerry and John Edwards Will Ensure Access to Health Care for All Veterans. John Kerry and John Edwards will end the game of playing politics with funding for veterans health care. As president, Kerry will push for mandatory funding for veterans health care so that America never pits veterans in one state against veterans in another.

John Kerry and John Edwards Will End the Disabled Veterans Tax. John Kerry and John Edwards will fight to end the “disabled veterans tax,” under which military retirees who receive both veterans’ pensions and disability compensation must surrender a dollar from their military retirement pay for every dollar they get for disability compensation. The Bush administration has fought to keep this unfair tax in place.

Kerry-Edwards Will Streamline the Veterans’ Health Care System. Too many veterans wait in line to receive health care from the Veterans’ health care system. A Kerry-Edwards administration will work to streamline this process so that veterans hear in a timely manner about their status and their benefits. And they’ll use America’s technological know-how to cut administrative costs by eliminating the billions of dollars lost through waste, fraud, and abuse in the health care system.

John Kerry and John Edwards Will Ensure That All Military Reservists Have Health Care. Members of the National Guard and Reserve are fighting and dying alongside members of the active duty component. John Kerry and John Edwards believe that these brave Americans deserve access to the same level of healthcare as other soldiers on the battlefield. As part of his Military Family Bill of Rights, John Kerry supports legislation to provide access to TRICARE, the military’s health care system, for all members of the National Guard and Reserves.

John Kerry and John Edwards Have a Plan to Address Rising Health Care Costs. Kerry-Edwards have a five-point plan to build a stronger America by controlling health care costs for all Americans, including providing families and businesses relief; cutting prescription drug costs; eliminating waste, fraud and abuse in the health care system; improving efficiency and quality of care; and making malpractice insurance more affordable.

- www.johnkerry.com