Peters Inducted into Michigan Military and Veterans Hall of Honor
LANSING, MI – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), a former Lt. Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve and a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today was inducted into the Michigan Military and Veterans Hall of Honor for his efforts to support our nation’s veterans and military.
“I am deeply humbled to be inducted alongside so many who have served our nation – and state – with honor and valor,” said Senator Peters, former Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve and member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. “I often think of those I served with in the U.S. Navy Reserve as I approach my work in the United States Senate – because to us, all that mattered was a shared commitment to service. That’s why I’ll continue working to honor our military and veterans – whether it’s by expanding access to apprenticeship opportunities for veterans or ensuring that veterans suffering the invisible wounds of war can receive the care they were wrongly denied.”
Peters has long been an advocate for Michigan’s servicemembers and veterans. In 2017, Peters was recognized as Legislator of the Year by the Vietnam Veterans of America for authoring the bipartisan Fairness for Veterans Act into law. The legislation requires veteran discharge review boards to give liberal consideration to petitions for honorable discharge status if the servicemember has been diagnosed with PTSD, TBI or other related conditions connected to their military service. As of the fall of 2020, more than 1,500 veterans have had their discharges upgraded since his legislation was enacted.
This past January, Peters’ bipartisan bill to strengthen transparency and communication for veterans and caregivers participating in the VA’s caregiver program was enacted into law. Also, Peters’ bipartisan legislation to expand apprenticeship opportunities for veterans and allow them to use their GI bill benefits to secure a registered apprenticeship was signed into law last year. In last year’s defense bill, Peters fought for and helped secure a measure to expand the Department of Veterans’ Affairs list of medical conditions associated with Agent Orange exposure to include bladder cancer, hypothyroidism, and Parkinsonism.
Senator Peters volunteered for the U.S. Navy Reserve and served for over a decade in units at Selfridge Air National Guard Base. He earned a Seabee Combat Warfare Specialist designation and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Commander. His reserve duty included time in the Persian Gulf region supporting Operation Southern Watch. After the September 11th terrorist attacks on our country, he volunteered again for drilling status.
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