Lorie's Letter - October 2012

San Diego is a military town. We are the homeport to more than 60% of the ships in the U.S. Pacific Fleet, and more than one-third of the combat power of the U.S. Marine Corps. We have more than 100,000 active-duty Navy and Marine Corps personnel assigned to ships and bases throughout the San Diego region. Not to mention, the military is the single largest employer in San Diego County, and two-thirds of our residents have indirect ties to the military.

The military, their families, and veterans are an integral piece of our community. I am so honored to have so many active duty military and veterans living in my district. I have a deep appreciation for the daily sacrifices made by our servicemen and women, so that the rest of us can sleep safely knowing that we are protected.

Many of you may be aware that the Federal government has recently been talking about severe cuts to our military and defense spending. This would have a devastating impact on the lives of tens of thousands of families in San Diego, as well as our local economy. That is why I went to Washington D.C. last month to meet with top officials at the Pentagon, Department of Defense, and our Congressional delegation to plead the case for keeping sequestration cuts to a minimum in San Diego.

In addition, I am proud to be putting on the second annual Military and Veteran’s Appreciation Day right here in Clairemont. The event is open to the public, and all military members, veterans, and their families are invited to attend. Last year, hundreds of people turned out to help celebrate and thank our friends and neighbors who serve in the military, and I hope that this year’s celebration will be an even bigger success.

The event will be held on October 20 th  from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on the lawn of the Clairemont Lutheran Church. This family-friendly event will have live music, food, games, and much more. There will be a special presentation by myself, Mayor Jerry Sanders, Congressman Brian Bilbray, and top military officials at 11:00 a.m. to kick off this event. I hope that you and your families will be able to join us.