Elected leaders at the local, state and federal levels used a Veterans Day event in Arlington to press for more support for those who have served and are serving their country, and for their families, as well.
“We need to take care of them,” said Rep. Don Beyer, attending the annual ceremony sponsored by John Lyon Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3150 and held at the Clarendon War Memorial.
Beyer was joined by U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, State Sen. Barbara Favola and County Board member Susan Cunningham at the ceremony, which marked the 107th anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I.
“Arlington is a community that supports our veterans. They are our neighbors, friends, siblings, moms, dads,” said Cunningham.
About 12,000 Arlington residents are military veterans. “You took care of us, now it is time for us to take care of you,” Cunningham said.
A number of speakers noted the need for more mental-health services to support those returning from military conflicts.
Favola encouraged those facing crises of any type, whether veterans or family members, to reach out for support.
“If someone needs help, there are resources,” she said.
Kaine and Beyer noted the military activities of their fathers and fathers in law, who served during World War II and the Korean War.
They represented a generation of “patriotism, love of country, love of family, duty and honor,” Kaine said.
“What a blessing” to have had them in their lives, he added.
Beyer said he, Kaine and other lawmakers were working on a number of pieces of legislation to support active-duty military personnel, veterans (including disabled veterans) and their spouses.
The Clarendon War Memorial dates to 1931. Initially honoring those from Arlington who died in World War I, its scope has been expanded to honor all those from the county serving, and in some cases dying, for their country.
The 11 a.m. commemoration was one of two ceremonies sponsored by Post 3150 on Veterans Day. The other honored the post’s namesake, U.S. Army Lt. John Lyon, who was killed in action just weeks before the end of the war and posthumously was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his efforts to save a wounded officer while giving his own life.
Lyon was the son of newspaper publisher Frank Lyon, who as a developer was responsible for creation of the Lyon Park and Lyon Village neighborhoods.
