November 13, 2021
Dear Friends,
America’s veterans embody our nation’s proud spirit of service and sacrifice to protect our way of life. Their dedication to country, community and fellow Americans represents the best expression of our ideals and our shared values. Whether a brother, sister, parent, grandparent, cousin, friend or neighbor, they are the heroes among us.
Veterans Day serves as a revered time to reflect on the extraordinary sacrifice our servicemembers and their families make to protect our way of life.
Throughout the week, our Capital Region was host to a number of events to recognize the example set by our service members. I had the honor of participating in several of these events:
- Last week, I attended Town of Florida Veterans' Day Ceremony.
- I had the honor of attending the Veterans and Community Housing Coalition’s annual Veterans Ball, which celebrates local military members and provides support and housing to homeless veterans.
- I shared remarks at an Honor-a-Vet event in Rensselaer Country in recognition and mourning of a young veteran who passed away in 2018.
- I spoke to students and attendees of the Veterans Ceremony at Shenendehowa High School alongside residents of Shenendehowa who served our country.
- I attended a Veterans Day dinner at the Century Club of Amsterdam.
- I joined the Albany Veterans’ Day Parade.
- I attended a Gold Star Mother event in Albany to recognize the strength of our military families who have lost loved ones while serving in our U.S. Armed forces.
- Lastly, I gave remarks during the New York State Division of Veterans’ Services unveiling of the first ever New York State Digital Veterans Welcome Center.
These events are more than just an opportunity to recognize our veterans for their service. They are my chance to say thank you. We owe our way of life to these brave men and women. They remind us every day that our communities and country become a better and brighter place when we work to serve others.
Veterans Day calls on us to redouble our commitment to the veterans in our lives and our Capital Region communities. For my part, I’m working in Congress to
- Improve the VA with strong investments that ensure quality access and care to our service members;
- Recognize the promote the vital work of veterans in strengthening our economy, including supporting the 2.5 million—nearly one in 10—small businesses that are veteran-owned; and
- Expand benefits and services for our nation’s 1.9 million female veterans.
This vital work also extends to providing veterans’ services to our Capital Region military members, including helping ensure their access to the benefits they have earned, replacing lost medals or ensuring deserved medals are awarded, and much more.
We have a duty to be there for our veterans, and fulfill our commitments to them just as they fulfilled their commitment to our country. This is the least we can do.
To those who have served, those who continue to serve and to their loved ones who have stood with them every step of the way, thank you. No words can express the gratitude we feel for your sacrifice to our country, and no thanks is enough to repay the debt that we owe you.
As always, thank you for reading.
Your friend,
DID YOU KNOW?
Throughout this pandemic, my office and I have worked to make sure you remain informed with the latest local, state and federal updates and recommendations. With that in mind here is some information that may be of interest to you:
- As of November 2, 2021, children 5 to 11 years old are eligible to receive the COVID-19 Pfizer-BioNTech pediatric vaccine. Locations in the Capital Region are holding free vaccine pods for children. You can visit vaccines.gov or text your zip code to 438829 or call 1-800-232-0233 to find locations near you.
- Despite COVID-19 symptoms being milder in children, they may still experience extreme sickness that can result in hospitalization and long-term health complications such as multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C).
- Vaccination and other preventative measures can protect children from COVID-19. Like adult vaccine trial results, vaccination was nearly 91 percent effective in preventing COVID-19 among children aged 5-11 years old. Children may receive the COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines, including flu vaccine, at the same time.
- Parents and guardians looking to schedule vaccine appointments for children ages 5 - 11 are encouraged to contact their child's pediatrician, family physician, local county health department, FQHC, or pharmacies that may be administering the vaccine for this age group.
- Your child will need a second shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine three weeks after their first shot.
- Click here to learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine for children and teens.