March 29, 2024

Panel will consider monument to veterans with invisible wounds, under Marshall bill OK’d by House

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State House – A special legislative commission will look into the possibility of erecting a monument in the Veterans Cemetery in Exeter honoring veterans of invisible wounds, under a resolution sponsored by Rep. Kenneth Marshall and approved by the House in June.
Such a monument would pay tribute to members of the armed forces who suffer invisible wounds to their mental health in the form of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and substance-use issues.
“The mental toll of serving in the armed forces has long been something people didn’t want to talk about. In fact, we still have a very long way to go in terms of eliminating the stigma and other barriers that keep veterans as well as civilians from getting mental health treatment and assistance when they need it. We should recognize that veterans who we lose as a result of the mental wounds they suffered in service are also, very unfortunately, casualties of war. A monument will provide them with a measure of honor, while helping bring us toward better recognition of the critical importance of strong mental health care for all service members and veterans,” said Representative Marshall (D-Dist. 68, Bristol, Warren).
The House resolution (2017-H 6274A), which does not require Senate approval, creates a seven-member legislative commission that would study and provide recommendations for all aspects of the creation of a permanent Veterans’ of Invisible Wounds Memorial at the Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Exeter. The commission would include three members of the House of Representatives; the director of the office of Veterans Affairs, or a designee; the adjutant general of the Rhode Island National Guard, or a designee; a veteran who is a Rhode Island resident; and a member of the general public who is a family member of an affected veteran.
The commission is to report its findings to the General Assembly by March 15, 2018.

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