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Message of the Week
Wednesday, June 22, 2005

Dear friends,

One of the most wonderful things about being Governor is that I have the privilege of seeing Arizona at its best. Last Sunday, I had one of these opportunities. Eight members of the 855th Military Police Company, a unit stationed in Arizona, received the Purple Heart for the bravery they displayed and the injuries they sustained while deployed in Iraq. With the addition of these eight honorees, the 855th can count 20 Purple Heart recipients among its ranks.

As I pinned the medals on the servicemen and women and thanked them for their sacrifices, I was reminded how many other veterans have made Arizona proud by giving the gift of service to our country. Veterans have given so much to all of us, and I want to ensure the state is doing everything it can for them.

To further this goal, this week I created the Arizona Veterans Task Force. I've asked this group to examine Arizona's veterans' benefits and services and compare them to those offered by other states. By January 2006 they should have the information they need to present a report to me, Senate President Bennett and Speaker Weiers.

The fact is, veterans are not only valued members of our communities, they also contribute greatly to our economies. There are approximately 565,000 veterans living in Arizona, contributing an estimated $5 million to the state's economy. These Arizonans deserve the highest-quality and most user-friendly services our state can offer.

I will appoint 11 members to my Veterans Task Force, starting with the director of the Arizona Department of Veterans' Services who will serve chair. Among the other ten members will be a staff member from the Governor's Office of Strategic Planning and Budget, and one from the Arizona Department of Revenue.

I have high hopes for this task force because they have been charged with such an important job - serving those who've served.

As always, if you have any questions or comments, please contact my office at 1-800-253-0883 and ask to speak to Constituent Services.

Yours Very Truly,

Janet Napolitano
Governor

Please encourage your friends and family to sign up for my Message of the Week at http://www.azgovernor.gov.


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