Veterans, a Lighthouse and a Parade

I had the honor of addressing the Sarasota County Veteran's Commission this past week. Veterans face a variety of problems that can bring them into contact with the criminal justice system. About ten percent of the inmates in our local, state and nation correctional facilities are veterans according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. A recent study by the Rand Corporation estimates that about 20% of the veterans returning from Iraq or Afghanistan may be facing severe mental illness or suffering from head injuries. The Surgeon General of the Army, and the newly formed Pentagon center on brain injury are sending the message that seeking help is a sign of strength. At risk veterans need services before they come into contact with our courts. Judges and attorneys need information from veterans so that we can give better representation and make better decisions. And law enforcement and other first responders may need training on dealing with those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. I hope to see many more veterans and the rest of our community when the new national cemetery has its groundbreaking on June 1, at 2:00 p.m. The cemetery is located on Clark Road (SR 72) about four miles east of the interstate. The Navy band will perform and it should be an exhilarating ceremony.

This past Saturday I participated in the "Be a Visionary" walk, at Sarasota Jungle Gardens, to benefit the Manasota Lighthouse. The Lighthouse provides services to visually impaired clients. A variety of doctors, staff, patients and benefactors gathered on a lovely morning. I was privileged to walk with Ruth Book, 87 years old, a spunky and intelligent companion, pictured with me above. Ruth educated me on many aspects of the challenges facing the visually impaired. I will say it again--the best part of campaigning is learning of all of the wonderful people and services in our area.

My walking was not complete, though, as I marched the entire length of the Heritage Day parade on Saturday evening. This is the biggest event of the year in Bradenton and an estimated crowd of 200,000 people lined the parade route. The Manatee County Democratic party sponsored a float. About 30 of us handed out 10,000 American flags to the spectators. We received an overwhelmingly positive reception along the way which makes me feel good about our prospects this November. Regina marched with me and we enjoyed a well deserved meal at Demetrios that evening.

I hope to see you this week as I attend the DeSoto Democratic banquet, the Manatee Bar Association beach party, and the performance of the Gulf Coast Community Choir on Sunday at the First United Methodist Church on Pineapple in Sarasota.