President Donald Trump issued a proclamation Wednesday designating November 2018 as National Veterans and Military Families Month.
“I encourage all communities, all sectors of society, and all Americans to acknowledge and honor the service, sacrifices, and contributions of veterans and military families for what they have done and for what they do every day to support our great Nation,” the president said in a press statement posted to the White House’s website.
Trump issued the proclamation while also championing his commitment to the veterans community.
“I was pleased to sign into law the landmark VA MISSION Act of 2018, which revolutionizes the way veterans receive healthcare and other services vital to their lives,” he said in the statement.
For full coverage of Veterans Day and veterans' affairs events this month, visit Military Times' Veterans Month Salute page.
The Department of Veterans Affairs fiscal 2019 budget included a $1.75 billion increase in money tied to the VA Mission Act, which was passed at the start of the summer and sponsored by a bipartisan group of senators.
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The legislation will rewrite the department’s community care programs, expanding veterans ability to access private health care at taxpayer expense.
“I have also mandated greater collaboration across the Government to support veterans transitioning to civilian life,” Trump added. "Additionally, Second Lady Karen Pence and I have collaborated on ways to elevate the career and educational opportunities for military spouses and children in partnership with State, local, and tribal officials.”
Veterans Day lands on a Sunday this year. However, the observed holiday by federal employees will occur on Nov. 12, a Monday.
The 2018 celebrations also mark the centennial commemoration of the end of World War I on November 11, 1918.
Kyle Rempfer was an editor and reporter who has covered combat operations, criminal cases, foreign military assistance and training accidents. Before entering journalism, Kyle served in U.S. Air Force Special Tactics and deployed in 2014 to Paktika Province, Afghanistan, and Baghdad, Iraq.
