Senator Montgomery Honors Military Women Who Hail From NYC

Brooklyn, New York (November 7, 2005): New York State Senator Velmanette Montgomery (D-Brooklyn) was among the supporters of more than 40 women veterans hailing from New York City who were treated to "A Day of Pampering" at the Manhattan-based Turning Heads Beauty Salon and Spa.

The event was organized by Senator Montgomery’s constituent from Fort Greene, Elizabeth Shell-Carr, who is a clinical social worker and trauma therapist at the NYS Division of Veteran Affairs’ Harlem Vet Center. Professional aestheticians provided manicures, massages, facials and other spa-type services to the military women, some of whom recently returned from Iraq and others who served our country during Desert Storm and the Vietnam War.

In talking about the theme of the Day, Those Who Served, Deserve to Be Served, Ms. Carr said, "Many of the Black and Latino women who served in the military or who remain in the Reserves often feel overlooked and unappreciated. This is a way to convey our caring, commitment and thanks to the soldiers."

Montgomery, whose Senate District includes parts of Kings County, delivered words of encouragement and appreciation to the women, noting that more women veterans reside in Brooklyn than any other county in the state. Brooklyn is home to 6,570 of the 67,750 women veterans statewide.

The Senator also presented each of the women with a certificate of recognition in tribute to their valiant service and loyalty to the United States.

In closing, Senator Montgomery talked about the Patriot Plan III, legislation signed into law this year to provide expanded benefits to New York’s military personnel and their families.

Highlights of Patriot Plan III include:

• Providing the survivors of eligible public employees who give their life while on active duty in the Armed Forces with the same death benefits that their survivors would be entitled to if the public employee made the ultimate sacrifice while working as a public employee.

• Providing the survivors of eligible public employees who pass away while on active duty in the Armed Forces with the same health insurance benefits to which such survivors would be entitled if the public employee were killed while working as a public employee.

• Reimbursing premium payments sufficient to assume the costs for $250,000 worth of service member’s general life insurance for members of the New York State organized militia during periods of non-training active service.

• Providing for a new "War on Terror" license plate that shall be issued, upon request, to veterans of the Persian Gulf or Afghanistan conflicts.