JEFFERSON CITY — Last week, thousands of citizens gathered at the Multipurpose Building on the UCM campus in Warrensburg. The excitement and joy could be felt everywhere. Many of the men, women and children present were there to welcome home loved ones gone almost 11 months.

The Missouri National Guard’s 1-135th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion (ARB) returned from Afghanistan. These servicemen and women were deployed in a similar event at UCM in March 2013 for training. The more than 300 soldiers had trained in Idaho and worked in Texas to develop into an active duty air attack helicopter unit. Leaving the country in July 2013, those men and women managed to work almost non-stop while overseas, carrying troops and supplies when needed, and supporting other missions.

The 1-135th is commanded by Lt. Col. James Schreffler and Command Sgt. Maj. David Gail. These men, along with the soldiers in their command, served our country proudly, with the more than 1,200 completed missions and almost 13,000 flight hours. The busy battalion earned hundreds of individual citations during this deployment, along with a submission to receive a Meritorious Unit Citation.

In the last few years, the General Assembly has passed legislation benefiting not only the brave men and women of the 1-135th, but all of Missouri’s current military and veterans. During the 2012 legislative session, lawmakers passed House Bill 1731, providing a dedicated funding source for Missouri’s seven veterans’ homes. Also passed that year was House Bill 1680, or the Show-Me Heroes Program, assisting veterans and their families in finding employment and helping during financial crisis.

In 2011, the legislature passed House Bill 136, streamlining both the unemployment and the professional licensing procedures for spouses of active duty military. House Bill 1524, passed in 2010, addressed topics such as absentee voting ballots for overseas service members, “next of kin” designations, and military medals held by the State Treasurer. Other bills that session addressed various Missouri scholarship programs and utilization of those programs by military members.

Veterans’ affairs have been one of my highest priorities during my time in the Capitol. I have had the honor of sponsoring a number of bills related to our military and veterans. I also serve as a member of the Missouri Veterans Commission, where I have the pleasure of working with a number of people and veterans to improve quality of veterans’ lives in the Show-Me State. I will continue to advocate for members of our military and our veterans during my time in the State Capitol in order to better provide for the futures of our heroes.

I will never forget the smiles, hugs and tears I witnessed at the welcome home ceremony. Everyone in attendance longed to hear the words of Lt. Col. Schreffler, “All present and accounted for,” meaning, of course, that their loved ones had returned home safely.

As always, please feel free to contact me or my staff with any questions or concerns at any time. We look forward to hearing your comments and suggestions and trying to answer any questions you may have. You can reach us by phone at 866-277-0882 (toll-free) or 573-751-2272, or by fax at 573-526-7381.