Happy Veterans Day. Today, I can’t help but think about my parents.
Like so many New Mexicans, I grew up in a military family. My father was a U.S. Marine Corps Vietnam combat veteran. My mother served in the Navy until she got pregnant with my older sister. They taught me the meaning of service and sacrifice, and I’ve spent my life honoring those lessons.
My dad earned two Purple Hearts and a Silver Star for his service in Vietnam.
While my dad was deployed for a two-year tour in Vietnam, my mom raised the four of us kids on her own as a military wife. I remember she would sit us down at the kitchen table nearly every night to write him letters. Even as young children, we knew very well there was a chance he would never return home.
My siblings and I bounced around from base to base as proud children of a Marine Corps officer.
The day my dad finally came home, my heart was whole again. 💛
My parents taught me the importance of service and commitment. But right now, Donald Trump and his Republican allies are hurting our veterans and the people who serve them.
It’s beyond shameful that they’re firing people who serve our Veterans, threatening essential healthcare, support services, and job security that our veterans and military families earned. Veterans are being punished again as critical VA services remain frozen, and the SNAP benefits our veterans receive to put food on the table hang in the balance.
As governor, I will always take a stand for those who’ve served our country with honor. And I will reject any attempts to rip away the benefits that veterans and their families so rightfully deserve.
Be fierce,
Deb
