Dozens of Vets Seek Employment at Job & Resource Fair Hosted By Senator Sanders; Event Also Commemorates Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

State Senator James Sanders Jr. (D-Rochdale Village, Far Rockaway) held a successful Veterans Job & Resource Fair on Friday, December 7, 2018 at the Daniel M. O'Connell American Legion Post 272 in Rockaway Beach.  The event coincided with Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, and provided an opportunity to both assist veterans and celebrate their service to our country.
 
"I’m always amazed at how everyone says they love the troops until you come home, then suddenly you are forgotten," Sanders said. “We need to turn this around. Yes, absolutely we support the troops, but we also have an obligation to look out for our veterans”
 
Dozens of veterans, representing nearly every branch of the military, packed the legion, which is housed inside the Knights of Columbus seeking jobs and other assistance. There were over 40 different organizations on hand to help with their needs.
 
Representatives from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs were available to provide support with healthcare and other VA benefits. The NYS Comptroller’s Office of Unclaimed Funds helped vets search for cash on the spot. Animal Care Centers of New York spoke to attendees about their free Pets for Vets Program, and there was much more.
 
A wide array of job opportunities were also available in fields ranging from healthcare and construction to transportation and retail. Vets Inc., a veteran-owned and operated company, catered the complimentary lunch for the event, which was sponsored by RMD Holdings LLC.
 
“We at RMD Holdings LLC are honored to do our small part in support of our United States military veterans, and we appreciate Senator Sanders’ leadership in organizing this job fair for local veterans,” Charles Hopkins, President and CEO of RMD Holdings LLC. said.  “We greatly admire these men and women veterans who have made the deepest of sacrifices to this country and are humbled by their courage, conviction and patriotism.”
 
In commemoration of Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, Senator Sanders called for a moment of silence for those who lost their lives in that surprise attack on the American military, while Jim Trainor, Adjutant of American Legion Post 272, spoke briefly about the history of the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

Senator Sanders' Veterans Job & Resource Fair represents continued outreach by his office to the veteran community. 
 
Special thanks to the Knights of Columbus for allowing us to use their space. Also thanks to American Legion Post 272 for helping to facilitate the event.
 
We would also like to express our appreciation to our community partners: Jewish War Veterans of the USA – Post 250, American Legion Rosedale-Laurelton Post 483, American Veterans (AMVETS) Post 10-13, and Jamaica Service Program for Older Adults (JSPOA).