[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Page 18399]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO THOMAS H. MILLER

  Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I would like to recognize and honor the 
service of Thomas H. Miller as he retires as the executive director of 
the Blinded Veterans Association. Mr. Miller has been an outstanding 
servant to his country and an advocate for his fellow veterans. He is 
truly an example of courage and perseverance. He has demonstrated 
throughout his career that the blindness he sustained through combat 
injuries does not impede his ability to have an impact here at home.
  Mr. Miller served his country honorably in Vietnam and lost his 
eyesight during a 1967 combat mission. He was honorably discharged a 
year later and returned home to find limited resources for veterans 
suffering from blindness. Following his own struggle to adjust to life 
at home, Mr. Miller dedicated himself to ensuring that all blinded 
veterans share in the resources, services, and support than can bring 
new hope and opportunities.
  As executive director of the Blinded Veterans Association, Mr. Miller 
helped dramatically improve the lives of blinded veterans nationwide. 
In 2006 he helped launch Operation Peer Support a program aimed at 
ending the isolation suffered by many blinded veterans returning from 
combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. This program provides veterans with 
valuable information regarding rehabilitation, employment, and self-
help activities. Most importantly, Operation Peer Support has provided 
many blinded veterans with the opportunity to interact with one another 
and make lifelong friendships here at home.
  Mr. Miller was also instrumental in raising awareness for blinded 
veterans. During his time with the Blinded Veterans Association, Mr. 
Miller worked with the Veterans Health Administration to improve care 
for the vision impaired. He testified before the House Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs about the challenges facing blind veterans and served 
as the chair of the Federal Advisory Committee on Prosthetics and 
Special Disabilities Programs. In 17 years of leadership, the Blinded 
Veterans Association made vital contributions to legislation that has 
greatly expanded benefits and services for vision impaired veterans.
  Our Nation is fortunate to have veterans as selfless and dedicated as 
Mr. Miller. While he could have allowed his combat injuries to slow his 
career, Mr. Miller instead saw his experience as an opportunity to help 
improve the lives of thousands of his fellow veterans. He has given 
honest and faithful service to his country and those wounded veterans 
transitioning to life back at home.

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