Senate Approves Veterans Awareness Week

SENATE APPROVES VETERANS AWARENESS WEEK

Veterans Day will kick off a week long observance of issues involving military veterans next November under terms of legislation passed by the United States Senate Tuesday.

Nebraska's Senator Ben Nelson says the resolution, which he co-sponsored, will designate the week that includes Veterans Day, November 6th through 12th, as National Veterans Awareness Week. It will serve as a focus for educational programs designed to make young people aware of the contributions of veterans and their importance in preserving American peace and prosperity.

"This legislation is needed because of the success of the all volunteer military," said Nelson. "There are fewer people around who have had any direct connection with the military through families and friends creating a lack of understanding about the role veterans have played in our society. It is important that everyone is aware of our responsibility as citizens to fulfill the obligations we owe to those who do serve and who sacrifice on our behalf."

The resolution, S. Res. 155, encourages the Department of Education, the Department of Veterans Affairs and the military/veterans service organizations to continue their work in developing educational efforts which will help enlighten primary and secondary school students about the many ways in which veterans have secured and continue to nurture the values and way of life we hold dear.

"This educational emphasis will complement the national observances and commemorations that we as a nation traditionally associate with Veterans Day," said Nelson.

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