Ninety-eight years after the end of the first world war, on the the eleventh hour, of the eleventh day, of the eleventh month, people across the nation will pause for a moment of silence to recognize Veterans Day.
Among them will be Multnomah County Commissioner Diane McKeel.
McKeel’s son has recently retired from the Marine Corps, and she said she has seen his services shape him, as a man and as a father. McKeel too is preparing to retire. She’s serving out the last two months after two consecutive four-year terms.
McKeel has brought forward a Veterans Day proclamation every year. This time her voice shook as she spoke.
“It’s been an honor to sponsor this proclamation alongside our county employees who have served or are still on active duty,” she said. “We are a better organization because of the assets and experiences these veterans bring to our workforce.”
McKeel called on the board Thursday to continue to champion services for veterans and their families. “We all have a responsibility to continue to honor the men and women who served,” she said.
The county’s Veterans Services Office has invested in staff and focused programs to reach women veterans, LGBT veterans and veterans from communities of color, said Lee Girard, deputy director of the Department of County Human Services. The county has also prioritized stable and affordable housing and services for women veterans who have survived domestic and sexual abuse.
Looking back just three years, the department has quadrupled the number of veterans seeking services and more than doubled the number of veterans filing for benefits with Veterans Affairs.
“The support from Multnomah County and the Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs have made it possible for us to set ambitious goals to not only serve more veterans,” McKeel said, “but to ensure that veterans who have been historically underserved have access to benefits and recognition.”
Andrez Posada, co-chair of the county’s veteran employee resource group, thanked the board for its support.
“I’m humbled to work for an organization that doesn’t just honor our veterans but supports them,” he said. “Veterans represent all people of this nation. But they share something in common. For a certain time in their lives, they were all willing to put the needs of their country in front of the needs of their own.”