Vets, Kirk always support each other

I was shocked and dismayed when I saw Dan Seals and Blagojevich official State Veteran Affairs Director Tammy Duckworth on television bashing Congressman Mark Kirk on veterans' issues. Kirk is an 18-year Naval Reservist and with a long history of strongly supporting veterans, while Seals has never served.

First and foremost in the mind of any 10th District veteran would be Mark Kirk's exceptional achievement in keeping the North Chicago VA Hospital open. He took the lead in getting VA-Navy cooperation to save the hospital. We now have the $140 million James A Lovell Federal Health Center under construction there. This facility will provide state-of-the-art medical support for veterans, active military and military dependents.

Kirk has consistently voted in Congress to increase funding for veterans' services. He and Chris Carney, the House's only other active reservist, introduced the Make Our Veterans Smile Act, which would improve dental care for thousands of disabled veterans. In 2007 he voted to increase funding for veterans mental care by more than $600 million and to spend $120 million to help get homeless veterans off the streets and into housing. There is not enough space to list all that Congressman Kirk has done for veterans.

The bottom line is: I trust Congressman Kirk. I'm a veteran and retired soldier I know how much has done and will continue to do for us. I'm not the only one who thinks this way. The VFW has endorsed Kirk every time he's been up for election. Kirk has given veterans strong support. Regardless of who Rod Blagojevich or anyone else in the state Democratic power structure sends to campaign for Dan Seals, he's not going to convince me otherwise. Mark Kirk should be re-elected.

Gil Clark

Lake Forest