In coordination with the Unite for Veterans rally in Washington, DC, a diverse group of veterans, their family members, and supporters here in Grant County have come together to hold a local rally in Gough Park on Friday, June 6, from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. The goal of this rally is to bring attention to recent and proposed further cuts to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. This is a nonpartisan event supporting all veterans and their access to the benefits they have been promised.
Our county has long taken pride in the number of our community members who have served in the military and of those who have returned here to live. In Grant County, 11.0% of our community are veterans (2,420 of them). Manuela Baca Jenkins put it well when she said, "Everyone here knows a vet!" This is an opportunity to acknowledge our support for fulfilling the promises made to these veterans by our nation and a recognition that all of those who have served, no matter in what capacity, have served us in defense of our freedom.
The Grant County rally will begin at 4:00 p.m. along the Pope St. side of Gough Park with signs bearing messages like "Support the VA,""Stop the cuts," and "Support our veterans." We invite all to join, but we do ask that your signs stick to these messages and in a positive and respectful way. Around 5:00 p.m. we will move to the park gazebo to hear from people whose lives have been made better by various benefits and programs through the VA.
If you have a story to tell about the importance of the VA in your life, please contact Sharon Bookwalter at
