[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 186 (Tuesday, December 6, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S8373]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                   RECOGNIZING THE MISSION CONTINUES

 Mr. BLUNT. Mr. President, on Veterans Day, November 11, 2011, 
I was fortunate enough to attend a service project at Walnut Grove 
Elementary School in St. Louis, MO, alongside nearly 100 veteran and 
civilian volunteers. These volunteers recognized that Veterans Day is 
not just an opportunity to thank veterans but also an opportunity to 
recognize them as the civic assets they are and to demonstrate that 
their skills and leadership are very much needed in our communities. 
This group spent nearly 7 hours working on a wide variety of academic 
and artistic projects that will improve the learning environment at 
Walnut Grove Elementary.
  This experience was only possible through a Missouri organization 
called The Mission Continues, headquartered in St. Louis. Founded in 
2007 after CEO Eric Greitens returned home from service in Iraq as a 
Navy SEAL, The Mission Continues is the only national nonprofit 
dedicated to empowering post-9/11 veterans to rebuild purpose through 
community service. They have recognized that many veterans struggle to 
find purpose at home without the structure, mission, and camaraderie of 
a military unit. The Mission Continues challenges our veterans to apply 
their military skill sets to address critical needs within our 
communities by serving as citizen leaders. This unique approach gives 
veterans renewed purpose and strengthens our communities for future 
generations.
  The Mission Continues engages post-9/11 veterans to serve in their 
communities through 28-week service fellowships at nonprofit 
organizations. This fellowship program provides our former military men 
and women with the opportunity to translate their military experience 
into civilian skills. To date, The Mission Continues has awarded nearly 
200 successful fellowships in 30 States and the District of Columbia. 
Additionally, the organization recognizes our veterans as civic assets 
and brings veterans and civilians together to serve their country by 
leading in their local communities.
  We must remind ourselves that while our veterans are often told 
``thank you,'' they also need to hear, ``we still need you.'' Through 
their work, The Mission Continues is fundamentally changing the way our 
Nation welcomes home our servicemembers. In addition to the fellowship 
program, they are contributing to comprehensive academic research, have 
established innovative partnerships between public and private 
organizations that support our veterans in their transition, and 
provide an experienced voice as the Nation tackles veterans' issues.
  I encourage my colleagues in the Senate to recognize the work that 
The Mission Continues performs every day. As a nation, we are all 
invested in the post-military careers of the men and women in uniform 
who have defended our country. I encourage all Members to stand with 
The Mission Continues as they challenge our veterans to be citizen 
leaders in their communities.

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