Four years ago I was given the honor of serving Veterans as Minnesota's Commissioner of Veterans Affairs. This came after completing seven years as the states adjutant general during extensive mobilizations as our nation fought in Iraq and Afghanistan. The importance of caring for our Veterans was branded in my heart and mind as we sent a newer generation off to battle. It is with that preface that I feel proud of the accomplishments made by the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs these past four years.

Some of the more noteworthy accomplishments include the vastly improved St. Paul Claims Office our claims representatives use as their home base at the Whipple building in Minneapolis. Their work with Veterans help ensure Veterans get the benefits and support they have earned through their service to our country. We also broke ground for a new Veterans Cemetery in Preston Minnesota. It is scheduled to open in 2015. I have visited the site twice and believe it will be a national "poster child" for state operated cemeteries.

Special emphasis within the state and nation has been on ending Veteran homelessness. I'm proud to say Minnesota is taking a strong lead in implementing strategies to achieve the VA's goal of ending homelessness by 2015. Working with other state agencies within Minnesota at all levels of government and private sector has enabled us to make positive strides in ensuring there are safe and secure housing opportunities for our Veterans.

Also, I am especially pleased, and relieved, that through the state and federal partnerships we have been able to fully fund the completion of the Minneapolis Veterans Home campus - all three phases - to ensure our Veterans have a quality environment during their senior years. Minnesota is nationally respected for our care of Veterans, and we continually seek out strategies to ensure our Veterans continue to receive quality care. There are a number of communities actively seeking to build Veterans Homes in their communities. While it's nice to be wanted, it also keeps us very busy balancing the needs of the Veterans and the wishes, and resources, identified by the legislature.

Our primary goal for the coming years is to ensure that our Veterans have a stable and secure environment that provides them with the programs and services they need. I've often used the phrase "bring them all the way home," and I believe we are well on the way to helping our Veterans make that journey. There is much more work to do but our goal is to keep all our Veterans fully aware of resources that are available to them, and that will help them live full and productive lives.

Thank you for your service!