Honoring Our Veterans

Roy Blunt has made honor and respect for military veterans a cornerstone of his life and public service.

Like countless Missouri young people, he learned in grade school about the heroes of Valley Forge and other American wars and conflicts. Memorial Day brought the decoration of the graves of fallen soldiers, with flags and flowers. He looked with extra respect on every person in uniform, especially a uniform of the armed forces. When Old Glory passed by, he enjoyed saluting and placing his hand over his heart.

Roy Blunt brought these values and understanding to public service. He has visited injured servicemen and women at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Landstuhl Medical Center in Germany, where wounded soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan receive treatment. He has made difficult and emotional telephone calls to Missouri families who have lost a spouse, parent or child in service under the national colors. He has participated in countless ceremonies to honor and recognize those who serve or have served.

Roy is proud of his son Matt who served our country in the Navy for nearly five years of sea duty aboard Navy warships and his service in Operation Enduring Freedom, our military’s response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

As a lawmaker Roy was worked diligently to meet America's promise to protect our men and women fighting for our country and to care for our veterans when they come home. Roy knows we owe our veterans a debt that cannot ever fully be repaid.

Roy led the effort to establish "concurrent receipt" for disabled veterans. The former system reduced a disabled veteran’s military pension by the amount of disability compensation. In October 2003, Blunt announced a new policy for these veterans under the 2004 National Defense Authorization Act. By Roy Blunt's leadership, many more veterans now are able to receive their military benefits and compensation for a service connected disability.

Roy believes veterans and retired military personnel have earned the best medical care we can provide. He led the fight to change Veterans Administration rules, to allow veterans awaiting a first VA appointment to obtain their prescriptions from non-VA doctors. This change cut waiting time for new veterans to less than one month, from more than six months.

For years, the Survivor Benefits Plan did not provide military survivors the level of benefits promised or deserved. Roy was a leader in changing to better benefits for surviving relatives, from 35 percent of retired pay to 55 percent. President Lincoln said what always must be true, that the nation will care not only for veterans, but also for their families.

Roy's first job was teaching history in high school classrooms. Roy was delighted to help preserve American heritage in the form of stories told by veterans. He helped inaugurate the Veterans History Project in partnership with the Veterans Recognition Committee at Missouri State University. Under the program, hundreds of war veterans of all ages were interviewed and placed their many inspiring and amazing deeds and experiences in the permanent record of American patriotism.

Roy also fought for and secured funding for Missouri projects such as the Springfield Veterans Cemetery and the Missouri Veterans' Nursing Home in Mt. Vernon. Roy and his office have helped literally thousands of veterans and retired military personnel who asked for aid in navigating the federal bureaucracy and getting their voice heard and their case resolved.

Over the years, Roy has been officially recognized by many veterans organizations, including the American Legion, the Military Officers Association of America, the Retired Enlisted Association, and the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution for his dedication to the cause of veterans and their families. 

If Missourians elect Roy Blunt to the United States Senate, veterans and their families will have a tried and true friend of America’s greatest and most selfless patriots, the men and women who serve.

Please stop by our Veterans for Blunt page, and sign up to join the coalition!