CHICAGO: U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) joined veterans at the Chicago Honor Ride & Run to discuss his “Kirk’s Battle Buddies” initiative, a state-wide support group that offers inspiration for individuals who have suffered health setbacks or are disabled. The Chicago Honor Ride & Run took place on Sunday, June 7, 2015.
Senator Kirk stated that he has taken ” an important step toward improving care for veterans and holding the VA accountable for its culture of corruption that is hurting our nation’s heroes”. On May 22, with help from both sides of the aisle, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed his legislation to fund veterans’ care at record levelsand protect VA whistleblowers who report mistreatment of veterans.
Kirk informed “As chairman of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs (MilCon/VA) Appropriations Subcommittee, I authored the fiscal year 2016 MilCon/VA appropriations bill thatincreases VA funding by $4.2 billion, or 6.5 percent.By funding veterans’ medical care at a record $59.4 billion, we can provide Illinois’ 700,000 veterans with the care they deserve”.
“My bill specifically includes $900 million to treat the more than 200,000 veterans with hepatitis C, of which more veterans have been cured in the last 16 months than in the last 16 years, as well as $232 million for traumatic brain injury treatments”.
Senator Kirk joined John Masson, an Army National Guard veteran who served in the Armed Forces for 13 years. Masson served in Operation Desert Shield/Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Masson is a triple amputee who endured two years of recovery and rehabilitation at Walter Reed Medical Center and Bethesda Naval Hospital. Since his recovery, Masson has become a motivational speaker and tries to inspire others by sharing his recovery story. He is a very powerful speaker.
Tanner Hoag, a United States Army veteran with over 17 years of service experience who suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) attended the event as well. It was Hoag’s first honor ride.
About 300 cyclist completed 18. miles, some 50. miles ride last Sunday to saise awareness and funding for Ride 2 Recovery, which gives individuals the opportunity to meet and ride with recovering military heroes.
The Honor Ride Series promotes these noble causes around the United States. Some organizers came from other states as well.
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Senator Mark Kirk and seven wounded veterans who are part of his “Battle Buddies” group, attended the Rockford AirFest and saluted the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels flight demonstration squadron before their takeoff. They meet the U.S. Army’s Golden Knights parachute team on Saturday, June 6, 2015.
“Kirk’s Battle Buddies” is a statewide support group that offers inspiration for individuals who have suffered health setbacks or are disabled. Senator Kirk, who suffered a stroke in January 2012 and underwent a year of intensive rehabilitation to learn how to walk again before returning to work in the Senate by climbing the steps of the Capitol, launched the group in February 2015 to inspire and push individuals to continue working hard with their rehabilitation. Senator Kirk has encouraged his “Battle Buddies,” who are all at various stages of their recoveries, to set physical goals, from climbing steps at home to competing in stair climbs in Illinois’ tallest buildings.
Andrew Mikolajczyk with Senator Mark Kirk.
Prepared by Andrew Mikolajczyk
Photos: Andrew Mikolajczyk
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