FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 20, 2008
Former National Commander of the American Legion Endorses Nels Ackerson, Criticizes Steve Buyer
Zionsville, IN - Today the Ackerson campaign released a video endorsement by Tom Bock, former National Commander of the American Legion and a lifelong Republican who is endorsing Nels Ackerson for Congress in Indiana's 4th district.
"Through our discussions about issues of great concern to military veterans and your approach to addressing them, I have reached the conclusion that Nels would be a true veterans' advocate in Congress," said Bock.
The American Legion is one of the Nation's leading veterans' service organization, with over 2.7 million veterans involved nationwide. Tom Bock was elected National President of the American Legion in 2005, after over 20 years of active involvement and advocacy on behalf of veterans. A veteran of the Air Force during the Vietnam War, he obtained the rank of Sergeant, and is a Blue Star father, having a son who is serving in Iraq.
"It is my proud honor to receive the support of such a strong advocate for Indiana's veterans. Tom has been a lifelong Republican, and I am particularly proud that like so many Republicans this year, he has been willing to cross the aisle to support my campaign. Treatment of our Veterans is a critical issue, particularly when we have more and more veterans fighting and returning home from Afghanistan and Iraq," said Ackerson.
"Our commitments to our veterans are a sacred promise. It is shocking that Congress hasn't honored those promises. The failure of Congress to honor their promises to veterans is more than a legislative failure. This is not a Republican issue or a Democratic issue," Ackerson continued. "It is fundamentally an issue of character and integrity."
During his 16 years in Congress, Steve Buyer has been highly criticized for his well documented anti-veteran record. While on the Veterans Affairs Committee, Buyer was given very low marks by multiple veterans organizations.
Disabled Veterans of America in 2006 was 66% and 0% in 2003, 2004, and 2005
AMVETS gave him a score of 50% in 2003
American Legion gave him a score of 50% in 2003
Two years ago, the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of American gave Buyer a "C" for his lack of support of the veterans' community.
Former National Commander Bock met with Steve Buyer on many occasions trying to get his support for Veterans. Bock commented, "In my honest opinion, Steve Buyer is not a veteran's friend. He was responding to someone else's direction in order to further his own career."
Ackerson has promised that when he is in Congress, he will be a champion who fights for Indiana's veterans. In August, Nels Ackerson publicly committed himself to the Ackerson Pledge on Veterans, four specific proposals that he would fight for in Congress. "Our veterans have given us their best, and they deserve to be treated honestly and to receive the benefits they were promised. And when I am in congress, that is exactly what I intend to do."
###
Contact: Peter Ackerson, 317-733-8468, peter@nels4congress.com
Nels Ackerson believes very firmly in the need for truth in government and for active protection of Veterans rights. He is running for Congress to bring much-needed change and bipartisan leadership to Washington on behalf of Hoosiers in the Fourth District. Nels and his wife Sharon live in Zionsville. They have four grown children and a granddaughter. Learn more at www.nels4congress.com.
October 20, 2008
Former National Commander of the American Legion Endorses Nels Ackerson, Criticizes Steve Buyer
Zionsville, IN - Today the Ackerson campaign released a video endorsement by Tom Bock, former National Commander of the American Legion and a lifelong Republican who is endorsing Nels Ackerson for Congress in Indiana's 4th district.
"Through our discussions about issues of great concern to military veterans and your approach to addressing them, I have reached the conclusion that Nels would be a true veterans' advocate in Congress," said Bock.
The American Legion is one of the Nation's leading veterans' service organization, with over 2.7 million veterans involved nationwide. Tom Bock was elected National President of the American Legion in 2005, after over 20 years of active involvement and advocacy on behalf of veterans. A veteran of the Air Force during the Vietnam War, he obtained the rank of Sergeant, and is a Blue Star father, having a son who is serving in Iraq.
"It is my proud honor to receive the support of such a strong advocate for Indiana's veterans. Tom has been a lifelong Republican, and I am particularly proud that like so many Republicans this year, he has been willing to cross the aisle to support my campaign. Treatment of our Veterans is a critical issue, particularly when we have more and more veterans fighting and returning home from Afghanistan and Iraq," said Ackerson.
"Our commitments to our veterans are a sacred promise. It is shocking that Congress hasn't honored those promises. The failure of Congress to honor their promises to veterans is more than a legislative failure. This is not a Republican issue or a Democratic issue," Ackerson continued. "It is fundamentally an issue of character and integrity."
During his 16 years in Congress, Steve Buyer has been highly criticized for his well documented anti-veteran record. While on the Veterans Affairs Committee, Buyer was given very low marks by multiple veterans organizations.
Disabled Veterans of America in 2006 was 66% and 0% in 2003, 2004, and 2005
AMVETS gave him a score of 50% in 2003
American Legion gave him a score of 50% in 2003
Two years ago, the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of American gave Buyer a "C" for his lack of support of the veterans' community.
Former National Commander Bock met with Steve Buyer on many occasions trying to get his support for Veterans. Bock commented, "In my honest opinion, Steve Buyer is not a veteran's friend. He was responding to someone else's direction in order to further his own career."
Ackerson has promised that when he is in Congress, he will be a champion who fights for Indiana's veterans. In August, Nels Ackerson publicly committed himself to the Ackerson Pledge on Veterans, four specific proposals that he would fight for in Congress. "Our veterans have given us their best, and they deserve to be treated honestly and to receive the benefits they were promised. And when I am in congress, that is exactly what I intend to do."
###
Contact: Peter Ackerson, 317-733-8468, peter@nels4congress.com
Nels Ackerson believes very firmly in the need for truth in government and for active protection of Veterans rights. He is running for Congress to bring much-needed change and bipartisan leadership to Washington on behalf of Hoosiers in the Fourth District. Nels and his wife Sharon live in Zionsville. They have four grown children and a granddaughter. Learn more at www.nels4congress.com.
