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Bishop Supports Blue Star Museums Joining Forces Initiative

August 16, 2011

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) delivered remarks at the Blue Star Museums Joining Forces Initiative Event at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum. Blue Star Museums is a partnership between Blue Star Families—a national nonprofit that serves military families, the National Endowment for the Arts and more than 1,300 museums across the country. The initiative is a free museum admission program available to active-duty military personnel and their immediate family members. The program runs from Memorial Day, May 30, 2011 through Labor Day, September 5, 2011.

In his remarks, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. praised Blue Star Families for their efforts on behalf of America’s military families. Below is the text of Congressman Bishop’s remarks:

It is always a pleasure for me to address the friends, members and supporters of Blue Star Families.

This organization is one of the premier advocacy groups for military families through its unparalleled commitment to providing sustainable support networks for military households all around the world.

And your outstanding services and efforts on behalf of our military communities have never been more needed than right now. Given the record number of deployments and military missions around the world, there is absolutely no doubt that the families of active duty personnel and transitioning veterans are in need of continuing support.

We are grateful and fully appreciate the ongoing efforts of the President and Mrs. Obama and Vice President and Mrs. Biden as they advocate for our military families.

As a Member of Congress, and as Co-Chair of the Congressional Military Family Caucus, I highly value the advice and counsel of Blue Star Families as we work together to fulfill our nation’s commitment to our troops and dependent loved ones. This means not only maintaining adequate salary and benefit levels for our active duty, guard and reserve forces but also proactively assisting military families, veterans and retirees.

That’s why earlier this year I introduced in the House and Senator Patty Murray introduced in the Senate, the Hiring Heroes Act. This legislation would provide transitioning service members with additional job-training skills and make federal hiring practices more veteran-friendly.

As someone who represents a large number of active duty soldiers, airmen, reservists and military retirees, I believe it is essential that we all continue to strengthen our commitment to our military families. That’s why I will always be eternally grateful for all that Blue Star Families has done and continues to do to assist military households not only in my district but throughout the world. Moreover, I salute the patriotic corporate citizens like BAE, Battlefield Telecommunications Systems, 3M and a number of others who have also joined in supporting our military families. I would urge you to lobby your corporate brothers and sisters and ask them to do the same.

We are all too aware of the ongoing threats against our great nation. Today, more than ever, we must remain vigilant in the defense of our people both here and abroad. We can only do that through a steadfast commitment to our service members and to the families of our men and women in uniform.

In closing, I would like to once again thank Blue Star Families for your outstanding efforts on behalf of our nation’s heroes. I look forward to continuing our work together as we advance the causes of America’s military and veterans’ families.

Renowned educator and theologian Benjamin Elijah Mays once said, “Every man and woman is born into the world to do something unique and something distinctive and if he or she does not do it, it will never be done.” I believe it is important for us all to remember that our brave troops honorably defend our freedoms and without them it would never be done.

In order to more properly pay homage to our nation’s heroes, it is imperative that we honor and support their families. If we join hands, we can fulfill our obligation to our military families and honor the sacrifice of our service members.

Thank you and God Bless.

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