I am writing this letter in support of the best friend veterans, their families and survivors have in Congress, Tim Walz.

I retired from active duty with 21 years in the military and followed that by serving the veterans and their families of Nicollet County as the county veterans service officer for 23 years. As a life member of the Disabled American Veterans, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and a member of the American Legion, I knew Tim before he was running for Congress and teaching at Mankato West. He contacted me to have a disabled veteran come and to talk to his class to open his students eyes to what sacrifice our veterans have made for our country.

Jim Sursely, a Vietnam veteran, triple amputee, from Rochester, spoke to the class. You could have heard a pin drop.

After that, I knew Tim Walz truly cares for veterans and wanted his class to recognize the sacrifices’ our veterans have made and still do.

I have fought for veterans and their survivors’ rights for years, making many trips to Washington representing the Minnesota DAV, meeting with the members of Congress. We are so fortunate to have Rep. Walz serving on the Veterans Affairs Committee. He has authored many bills for veterans and is one of the few legislators in Washington who works continually across the aisle with his fellow members of Congress. Issues such as the tragic Agent Orange issues for Vietnam veterans who struggle daily with the physical or psychological disorder or disease. The maladies of traumatic brain issues are growing every day with our military members serving in the Middle East and the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention Act that are just a few all of which Tim fought furiously for and got passed into law.

If we lose Tim Walz, this will be a tragic loss to all of our veterans and their survivors. If you are a veteran, family member or survivor of a veteran you need to realize how important it is to keep Tim Walz fighting for us in Washington. His loss will be all of our loss.

Henry “Hank” Sadler

retired Master Sgt. United States Air Force

St. Peter