VETERANS

As America sends its young men and women into harm’s way in Iraq and other parts of the world, it is important to honor and respect the sacrifices of those who have gone before.

Three years ago, Rep. Atsalis secured passage of a law that named a stretch of Route 6 in Barnstable "The Korean War Memorial Highway." Today, Rep. Atsalis has sponsored a bill to create a Korean War Veterans Memorial at the Route 6 rest area between Exits 6 and 7 in Barnstable. A suitable marker commemorating veterans’ sacrifices in the war will be erected. The bill, HB 1412, was passed favorably by the Transportation Committee and will soon get a hearing in the House of Representatives.

Also, on the House calendar for a full vote is Rep. Atsalis’s bill HB 204, which grants a special motor vehicle license plate to any veteran of any war who has earned the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, which is awarded to those who fought in hand-to-hand combat for 30 days or more. The proposal for this measure was brought to Rep. Atsalis’s attention by the late Arthur Gomes of Centerville – a CIB badge recipient of World War II.

"Arthur Gomes, who had earned many military honors, brought this measure forward for those fellow veterans who had seen combat, but did not earn the purple heart or other honor that would have entitled them to a special veterans license plate in Massachusetts," Rep. Atsalis said. "It was Arthur’s hope, and it is mine, that their bravery and service to America should be duly recognized."