Today, we honor and thank the 3 million Americans, and 20,000 Alaskans, who served our country in the Vietnam War. The impacts of the war at home and abroad left scars on these veterans that run uniquely deep. To those who fought to protected our nation, democracy, and freedom, thank you! #VietnamVeteransDay
Today, we also remember the 2,300 Alaska Native Veterans who answered the call. The timing of the passage of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act in 1971 meant that these veterans overseas in conflict where not able to their land before ANCSA passed. After decades of tireless work and advocacy, Alaska Native Veterans were promised another chance to select lands in 1998 and then again in 2019.
Yet, the fulfillment of that promise continues to be delayed or halted altogether. Not only that, the lands that are now available are largely unviable and unlivable. The result is that Alaska Native Veterans have been forced to wait for 50 years for lands they were rightfully promised.
As we remember the service of all Vietnam Veterans, I urge our Federal Administration to expedite quality land allotments to Alaska’s Veterans. We owe these heroes more than a debt of gratitude for the blood, sweat, and tears that have been shed the United States and Alaska; we owe them the land they were promised.
Original source can be found here.
