Kastama receives honor from veterans’ group

OLYMPIA – For his dedication to improving the lives of Washington’s veterans and families, Sen. Jim Kastama, D-Puyallup, has been awarded the “2006 Outstanding Patriotic Service” award by the Governor’s Veterans Affairs Advisory Council.

As chair of the Senate Government Operations & Elections Committee, Kastama has been an ardent advocate of programs and services for veterans. He supported legislation that:

• created tuition waivers for veterans;
• set up the Veterans Innovation Program to give additional assistance to those military members who have returned to their families and communities after serving in recent military action; and
• set aside $500,000 for returning Iraq and Afghanistan personnel and an additional 40 beds at the Veterans Home in Retsil.

“I am appreciative of this honor,” Kastama said. “It has been my privilege to work on behalf of the men and women in our armed forces whose sacrifices have been made for the good of our country.”

Due to an out-of-state engagement, Kastama will be represented by his 17-year-old son, Isaac, the Associated Student Body president at Stadium High School, and his father Bob Kastama, a veteran of the Korean War, at the Regional Veterans Day Parade and luncheon in Auburn on Nov. 11.

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