Governor Pawlenty Encourages Employers to be Veteran Friendly
St. Paul -Governor Tim Pawlenty has again proclaimed the month of May as "Hire A Veteran Month" as part of his ongoing efforts to make Minnesota the most veteran-friendly state in America. Minnesota supports the national "Hire Vets First" campaign, which honors America's military veterans by helping employers and veterans make the best use of a national network of employment resources.
“In the last year, Minnesota welcomed home more than 3,000 soldiers who have bravely served all over the world,” Governor Pawlenty said. “An important way we can honor their remarkable commitment, courage and sacrifice is by encouraging all employers to be veteran friendly. Veteran friendly employers place high value on the education, leadership, maturity, and dedication that veterans have gained in military service.”
To attract more veteran applicants, employers may add the words “Veteran Friendly Employer” to their job postings on the free MinnesotaWorks website (www.minnesotaworks.net). Veteran applicants can then search more easily for employers who are veteran friendly.
The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), through statewide WorkForce Centers and MinnesotaWorks, is committed to connecting employers with qualified veterans. Veteran friendly employers value a veteran's teamwork, leadership, integrity, and ability to get the job done.
It makes sense to hire a veteran. Military training provides a strong foundation for:
- Learning new skills and concepts
- Leading by example as well as through direction, delegation, motivation and inspiration
- Understanding how genuine teamwork grows out of a responsibility to one's colleagues
- Working side-by-side with individuals regardless of race, gender, geographic origin, religion or economic status
- Understanding how to accomplish priorities on time, in spite of tremendous stress
- Possessing the qualities of sincerity and trustworthiness - and a keen awareness of health and safety protocols
- Triumphing over adversity
For more information on hiring a veteran contact a WorkForce Center at 1-888-GET-JOBS; TTY 1-800-657-3973, or visit the web site at www.positivelyminnesota.com/veterans
For more information on the national "Hire Vets First" campaign visit www.hirevetsfirst.gov
Supporting veterans employment is just one way in which Minnesota has poured itself into welcoming soldiers all the way home. Minnesota’s Beyond the Yellow Ribbon program, Minnesota’s reintegration effort, has become the nation's foremost program for soldiers and their families.
Governor’s Proclamation
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The liberties, freedom, prosperity, and security that we as Americans are blessed with are preserved through a strong national defense; and
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Whenever called upon to defend our national security at home or abroad, the men and women who serve in the active service components of the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, and in the National Guard and Reserves have responded immediately and effectively, placing national interests above their own personal safety; and
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More than 48 million of these citizen-soldiers have served the United States of America. Over one million of them have made the ultimate sacrifice by giving their lives for their country, and over 1.5 million more of them have been wounded; and
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More than 410,000 honorably discharged veterans currently reside in Minnesota; and
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Today our men and women in uniform put their lives at risk each day, seeking to secure the blessings of freedom and liberty; and
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In 1944, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the G.I. Bill into law, he observed that more than anything else American servicemen and servicewomen wanted “the assurance of satisfactory employment” upon their return to civilian life; and
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Veterans today desire the same economic opportunities as their forebears, and bring to the modern workplace the skills, education, leadership, maturity, and dedication they have learned in military service. |
Now, Therefore, I, TIM PAWLENTY, Governor of Minnesota, in keeping with the President’s National Hire a Veteran First Campaign, do hereby proclaim the month of May, 2008, to be:
Hire a Veteran Month
in the State of Minnesota and encourage all state businesses to provide employment opportunities to those who have served our nation in the Armed Forces.
Upon request, the information in this news release is available in an alternative format
such as braille, large print, audiotape, or computer disk. |
