By Dan Sparks, Minnesota senator

I was happy to see so many of you paying tribute to our nation’s veterans at the parades and events throughout the district last weekend. It’s always a somber occasion to remember those lost while defending our country’s freedom, but I believe it’s important for us to reflect upon the sacrifices of those who came before us.

This year was a particularly special Memorial Day, as we not only remembered veterans of years past, but also the troops fighting for our country at this very moment. After a weekend of reflection, I am looking forward to this weekend’s celebration of the returning soldiers with the National Guard Company D, 135th Infantry based out of Albert Lea.

After more than a year of service in Afghanistan, these troops are returning home safely to very eager families and a very proud community. I would like to thank every single member of this crew for the service they have provided and wish them the best as they return to their lives here in Minnesota.

While these and other area soldiers have been serving overseas, our communities have come together in spectacular ways to support families and send packages and messages to our troops. In the same fashion, the Minnesota legislature united this year and passed several very positive pieces of legislation that ensure our fighting men and women, and their families, have the support they need and deserve.

One measure we approved will increase tuition and book reimbursement for National Guard soldiers from 80 percent to a full 100 percent, meaning returning troops will have an easier time realizing their goals of receiving a college degree. Other measures that directly benefit National Guard members include a new $1,000 bonus for Guard soldiers who choose to re-enlist. Another will provide a pay differential to Guardsmen and Guardswomen who are state employees called up to active duty. If they incur a salary decrease as a result of their military service, the state now will make up the difference in their earnings.

Another bill establishes &uot;Support Our Troops&uot; license plates that will be available for everyone to purchase in the near future. The plates will cost $10 more than regular Minnesota license plates, in addition to a $30 fee that will go directly into a special fund used to alleviate financial hardships faced by active-duty Guard and Reserve members and their families.

We also made progress on veterans’ initiatives this year &045; perhaps the most significant being the $670,000 included in the Bonding Bill for a new World War II Memorial to be built on the State Capitol grounds. Also passed was a bill declaring May &uot;Hire a Veteran Month,&uot;

intended to encourage employers to give fair consideration to veterans seeking work. Another new law that I coauthored designates part of Trunk Highway 371, which passes by Camp Ripley and the state veterans’ cemetery, as &uot;Purple Heart Memorial Highway.&uot;

The legislature also approved more than $8 million to go toward veterans’ service organizations such as the VFW, Vinland Center, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Disabled American Veterans, Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans and Outreach to Underserved Veterans.

While we can never fully thank soldiers and veterans for all they have done and all they will do to keep our nation free and safe, I feel these measures we passed this year are a step in the right direction.

If you have any questions or comments on this topic or anything else, please don’t hesitate to contact me at 651-296-9248 or 507-438-2898; or by e-mail at sen.dan.sparks@senate.mn. Write to me at Sen. Dan Sparks, G24 State Capitol, St. Paul, MN 55155.