Previous Story
Please support veterans affairs office
As the current governor had said, that he wished to ‘Thank’ me for my services to the “Inos administration” and the people of the CNMI for my contribution as the Military Liaison and Veterans Affairs executive officer. I too would like to wish the ‘New Administration’ best of luck and its new EO for the office of MLVA.
Mrs. Bernie B. Dele Cruz and I have strive with nothing but claim forms and loaners of office equipment and temporary used of vehicle from other agencies. I do challenge the new administration to be more sincere of their promises to our CNMI veterans and military personnel from abroad that they will support the next EO on his or her request to fully fund the local programs. As I came on board as the executive officer on Oct. 23, 2015, I discovered that our monthly operations was at all time low of only $251.92; Office computers are loaner from other agencies, no government-owned vehicle. I do believe that if the late governor Inos was with us today, this office will be more efficient due to his support and the love and respect for our veterans and current members of our U.S. Armed Forces from abroad.
I do like to share to our veterans, eligible dependents, and current active duty personnel, that Mrs. Dele Cruz and I have done what we can with little or none to operate/function as an office, but we have manage to meet with the grants office; DPW secretary and his key staff; Echo Company Commander; Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army; VFW Post #3457 and Kilili’s office for support and the expansion of the CNMI Veterans Cemetery, which is currently 65 percent full in Marpi; the preliminary design for the Rota and Tinian satellite veterans cemetery; and a Veterans Clinic which we do not have, the nearly 30-year-old Troop Store, and other benefits that we lack here on our CNMI soil. With that said, please no more empty promises, please support the Office of Military Liaison and Veterans Affairs. WHOAH!
Joseph M. Palacios
U.S. Army (Retired)
