Stephanie Wright's Council News

Veterans Day gives Americans the opportunity to celebrate the bravery and sacrifice of all U.S. veterans, both living and passed. Here is some background on this national holiday, courtesy of Military.com.

A Brief History of Veterans Day

Veterans Day, formerly known as Armistice Day, was originally set as a U.S. legal holiday to honor the end of World War I, which officially took place on November 11, 1918. In legislation that was passed in 1938, November 11 was "dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be hereafter celebrated and known as 'Armistice Day.'" As such, this new legal holiday honored World War I veterans.

Through the years since, many changes have been made to how and why we celebrate Veterans, or Armistice, Day. For more on this story visit Military.com.

See also the US Veterans Administration's website for additional history on the holiday that honors veterans past and present.

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Snohomish County's Network of Care for
Service Members, Veterans, & Their Families

Snohomish County recently launched its new "Network of Care for Service Members, Veterans & Their Families" program, which is designed to bring together multiple services geared toward and dedicated to veterans and their families in one online resource.

Through the Network of Care website, Snohomish County Human Services Department links veterans to federal military benefits, state, and local services for employment, housing assistance, mental health counseling and treatment, and even transportation.

I am glad to see Snohomish County doing its part, taking action supporting our troops and their families. I hope this program proves to be a great resource for servicemembers, veterans, their families, and even for local service providers as well. It is the least we can do to show our appreciation.

For more on the network, or to check it out yourself, visit the Network of Care for Service Members, Veterans & Their Families. Please pass the word about this valuable tool.

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Local Resources for Veterans in Snohomish County & Washington State

Snohomish County Veterans' Assistance Program

http://www1.co.snohomish.wa.us/Departments/Human_Services/Divisions/CmtyAction/VeteranAssistance/

Snohomish County's Network of Care for Service Members, Veterans and Their Families (Snohomish County and beyond)

http://snohomish.wa.networkofcare.org/Veterans/home/index.cfm

Washington Department of Veterans Affairs

http://www.dva.wa.gov/about_us.html

Women Veterans (Division of WDVA, above)

http://www.dva.wa.gov/women_vets.html

US Department of Veterans Affairs
http://va.gov/

US Department of Labor, Women's Bureau
http://www.dol.gov/wb/

If you are a US military veteran and need assistance, or if you know someone who is, these links to local, state, and federal-level care may resolve your issue. If you have further questions or need additional guidance feel free to contact Jennifer or myself here at the office. We are happy to help connect veterans in the State of Washington with the appropriate support.

Thank you servicemembers and loved ones for your service and sacrifice!

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Veterans Day Events

The Everett Herald published a list of events happening over the next week in honor of Veterans Day 2011. Here are some ceremonies and special occasions planned for south Snohomish County.

Edmonds
Music will be featured at "Salute to America" at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Edmonds Center for the Arts, 410 Fourth Ave. N. in Edmonds. Hear the Sno-King Community Chorale and Shoreline Concert Band. For tickets, call 425-275-9595.

A Veterans Day tour is planned for 11 a.m. Friday at Edmonds Memorial Cemetery, 820 15th St. SW in Edmonds. Learn about veterans buried in the cemetery in talks by Betty Deebach Gaeng and Dale E. Hoggins. For more information, call Dale Hoggins at 425-776-1543.

Lynnwood
A Veterans Day ceremony is planned for 11 a.m. Friday at Lynnwood Veterans Park Ceremony, 19300 44th Ave. W. With NW Junior Pipe Band, members of VFW Post 1040 and American Legion Post 37.

Mill Creek

A Veterans Day Ceremony is planned for 11 a.m. Friday at the Veterans Monument located in Library Park, 15429 Bothell Everett Highway. The ceremony will include guest speaker, U.S. Navy Cmdr. Daniel Limberg, executive officer of the Everett Naval Station.

For information on additional Veterans Day events around the county, the Everett Herald's published list is posted online here.

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Dick's Drive In Restaurant to Honor Veterans

Spotted on the Dick's Drive In Facebook page: It's the annual Burger Blast in honor of our veterans and active military members. We've got free hamburgers and cheeseburgers all day long on Veterans Day, Fri. Nov. 11th for our veterans and servicemembers. Bring military ID or show-up in your uniform and let us say a big "thank you" for your service to our country.

Here are the restaurant's answers to further questions asked via Facebook page recently about this special discount.

Q: How many? [burgers] Like two or three? Just curious...

Dick's: Choice of one FREE regular hamburger or cheeseburger for Vets or active military members. A small token of our appreciation for their service and sacrifice.

Q: * A lot of our vets that were in the gulf war and are now out of... service do not have military Id * It's been 20 years since i was in the Army ..no military id no have the uniform * How about a DD214 does that count or a copy of discharge?

Dick's: Yes, DD214 or copy of discharge works great

For more information see Dick's Drive In Restaurant on Facebook. Thanks to the Spady Family and Dick's Drive In Restaurant for their "1/4 LB 100% Beef" salute to military servicemembers.

Greetings, friends!

I hope you found this eNewsletter to be informative and useful. You can make it even more valuable by suggesting topics and issues for future editions.

If you have suggestions or feedback about calendar items, this publication, or about my office, I encourage you to be in touch with me. I want to keep lines of communication open between 3000 Rockefeller and our District. Please contact me at 425-388-3494, or e-mail Stephanie.Wright@snoco.org. If you would like to share this newsletter, select the Forward Email link below.

Thank you for being an involved citizen. It is truly a pleasure and an honor to represent you on the Council!

Sincerely,

Stephanie Wright
Snohomish County Councilmember, District 3