2024 Regular Session - Day 28 - HB 86, Rep. Bill Wesley

thank you Mr Speaker I'd like to thank all of our veterans uh I want to thank the kdva general Lambert and uh those that had a part in this bill uh this is a very much needed Bill uh I want to also thank our veterans that's on the house floor with us today but I would like to read if that's okay Mr Speaker uh when we were sworn in because some people don't doesn't have an understanding of of the oath that is took by all veterans even our national guardsman it says I you state your name do solom me swear or affirm that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic that I will bear truth faith and allegiance to the same and that I will obey the orders of the president of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me for those that's in the National Guard are they say the same oath but there's two things that's added into that oath it says that they will swear to uphold the state of Kentucky but also the Governor so not only the oath that we take as a veteran regardless if you're in the Coast Guard Army Marine Corps Navy or Air Force the national guard takes the same oath this is a very simple bill today and they're not asking for much but I would like to tell a story about a friend that I I have that served in the National Guard over in Rena estto County Kentucky under the 149th infantry unit Charlie Company he served many years not only that he served but his wife served and when I say that that they was as one so anybody that's in the military and they are married they have a a joint Union because any armed forces uh that or veteran they have an understanding that their spouse suffers in sacrifices along with that person Michael Stallings is a friend of mine that passed away of cancer and when his wife humbly asked uh to be buried in one of our five of the state cemeteries that we have in this Commonwealth she was denied dened and the reason that she was denied because he never served overseas he was never deployed never seen combat but I have to go back and tell you that the 149th infantry unit was they had a roster of everybody that was going to be deployed over to Iraq and him and three other soldiers was asked to stay back at their base so since he did not get to be deployed and he did not get to fulfill what was on the roster that wasn't up to him that was that was over chain of command and he was still denied what this bill does Mr Speaker in House Bill 212 it opens up that all veterans are reservists and National Guardsmen can be buried in one of our state cemeteries that's not asking for much just because you didn't see combat you should be denied of being called the veteran and I would like to say that Michael Stallings is just as much as a veteran than anybody that went overseas because some people that was deployed they never got shot at some people would stayed there at at their base wherever they they were stationed at and so I would like for this this house to consider and and vote along with me today to invite all of our national Guardsmen that served not just in Western Kentucky during the tornadoes but also in the Eastern Kentucky during the floods because I could tell you from a a man that served in Eastern Kentucky still does it was a good feeling to see our national Guardsmen deployed and dispatched to Eastern Kentucky during our floods and I know our colleagues here from Western Kentucky you felt the same when they came to Western Kentucky to help you I can ask all people in breathi County where I was serving at that time that lost over 400 homes just in that county alone that they would consider the National Guard that came to their rescue pulling them off houses trying to help them in any way they can if you asked them today was they a veteran they would say yes the Blackhawk helicopters that was flying in taking people off the homes that meant a lot to them people and it means a lot to me and I Know It Means A Lot To You just because you didn't suffer in Western Kentucky or Eastern Kentucky I believe that when you see all your friends in camouflage you respect them so I I would leave you with this everybody takes that same oath regardless if you're serving a National Guard or if you're in a Marine Corp I'm a proud Marine along with some others that's here on this floor regardless of what branch you served in you served this country you sered this state