Applauding Corzine for a Bill Well-Signed
Posted August 21, 2009

So often it seems elected officials in New Jersey do things to draw criticism — raising taxes, pushing for anti-family legislation, or getting indicted for one thing or another.

While we naturally call them out on these things — as we should — it is also only right that we recognize them when they do something commendable.

And this week, we'd like to offer a sincere "thank you" to Governor Jon Corzine.

On Sunday, Governor Corzine signed into law A1707/S288, a bill establishing the Veterans' Oral History Foundation. Sponsored bi-partisanly by the late Assemblyman Eric Munoz, Assemblyman Jon Bramnick, Assemblyman John Wisniewski, Assemblywoman Nilsa Cruz-Perez, Senator Tom Kean, and Senator Bill Baroni, this legislation creates a nine-member foundation to support and promote a veterans' oral history program, which, according to the press releaseissued by the governor's office, "will preserve and provide a vivid and far-reaching account of the personal experiences felt and lived out by the many brave servicemen and women from our great state."

Veterans Oral History projects — which exist across the nation — seek to secure and preserve personal accounts from veterans for future generations. As Assemblyman Wisniewski stated, "This will keep the memories and stories of New Jersey's veterans alive for generations to come…. Each generation has a different history to tell, and who better … to hear it from than the people that created that very history. The foundation will ensure the heroic efforts of veterans will never be forgotten."

Assemblywoman Cruz-Perez concurred, noting, "We owe our freedoms to those who have served this nation over the many years, and their histories must never be forgotten…. With this new law, quite simply, we'll be keeping their stories alive, and providing vivid history lessons for our children on what it means to be an American and to sacrifice to protect our liberty."

As provided by the legislation, foundation members "serve without compensation," and "[t]he foundation may incorporate, organize and operate in such manner as to be eligible under applicable federal law for tax-exempt status and for the receipt of tax-deductible contributions." Furthermore, all funds the foundation receives, except those required to meet expenses, "shall be used exclusively for the support and promotion of a veterans' oral history program."

It is right to remember, document, and pass on the stories of the men and women who served our country bravely and with honor. Future generations need to know their stories, and our veterans need to know their sacrifices will not be forgotten.

We applaud the members of the legislature who introduced, sponsored, co-sponsored, and voted for this legislation, and we applaud Governor Corzine for signing it into law.

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