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Lawmakers announce tour of Washington, D.C., with veterans

By Billie Owens

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R, C, I – Batavia) announced his second annual Patriot Trip for veterans to tour Washington, D.C.  This special trip is scheduled for Sept. 24-27 and is being jointly hosted by Congressman Chris Lee (NY-26).

“Last year’s trip was a very special and memorable trip for me on many levels: as a representative, as a veteran and as the son of a veteran," Hawley said. "I was thrilled to be able to share the experience with so many veterans from our region and am even more excited for this year’s expanded trip. I would like to thank Congressman Lee for his support and assistance in the planning of this trip."

The trip, dubbed Patriot Trip II, will include round-trip private-coach transportation from Western New York to Washington, D.C. and accommodations at the Crossroads Hotel on Quantico Marine Base.

It also includes tours of the nation’s Capitol and Arlington Cemetery, as well as visits to a number of monuments and memorials, including World War II, Korean, Vietnam, FDR, Jefferson and Iwo Jima, among other tours and visits. Additionally, the trip includes admission to the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, the Smithsonian Museum and Quantico Marine Military Museum.

“Any time our veterans take the opportunity to visit our nation’s capital, it’s an important event,” said Congressman Lee. “It’s not uncommon to see vets at our war memorials surrounded by grateful tourists and fellow citizens. I hope all local veterans will seek to take advantage of this unique opportunity. Assemblyman Hawley continues to do great work on behalf of our local veterans, and I look forward to working with him to ensure this trip is a success.”

While many veterans were sent a mailer with the trip’s original dates, due to military personnel commitments at the hotel, the trip’s dates have been changed to Sept. 24-27.  Assemblyman Hawley, who's also Ranking Member of the Assembly Veterans’ Affairs Committee, would like to encourage all veterans within the 139th Assembly District who did not receive the mailing, to call his office and ask to be put on the mailing list.

For more information about the trip and its details, pricing, or to sign-up for the trip or mailing list, please call Assemblyman Hawley’s District Office at (585) 589-5780.

David Lazik

"Patriot trip"?. Hawley's shameless pandering & constant wrapping himself in the flag never cease to amaze me. "Freedom fries" anyone? Our veterans & servicemen never had it so bad as they did under the administration of his heroes Bush & Cheney.

Jul 20, 2009, 10:48am Permalink
Howard B. Owens

Did Steve steal your candy as a kid? Pick you last in kickball? I mean, geez, your ceaseless attacks on him are just so over the top and so clearly driven by a partisan agenda.

Jul 20, 2009, 11:42am Permalink
bud prevost

Howard- when you're a minnow in the ocean, it's nice to come here and be a faux whale in a pond. David is a liberal, and "partisan agenda" is the democratic way. And Howard, I bet he's a Dodger hater, still grinding an ax 50+ years later. Stop being a hater Mr. Lazik, let's all just be tolerant if you disagree.

Jul 20, 2009, 11:48am Permalink
Bea McManis

Posted by bud prevost on July 20, 2009 - 11:48am
Howard- when you're a minnow in the ocean, it's nice to come here and be a faux whale in a pond. David is a liberal, and "partisan agenda" is the democratic way. And Howard, I bet he's a Dodger hater, still grinding an ax 50+ years later. Stop being a hater Mr. Lazik, let's all just be tolerant if you disagree.

Bud, Bud, Bud....
That is such a general statement...putting everyone in the same box.
There are liberals who really enjoy the label. It doesn't mean that they won't or can't listen to other opinions nor make decisions based on their own beliefs rather than rely on partisan agenda.
Mr. Lazik may have a different point of view and is certainly entitled to it, but don't paint us all with same brush.

Jul 20, 2009, 12:56pm Permalink
John Roach

David,
It’s clear you did not serve under either Jimmy Carter or Bill Clinton.

I didn’t like Bush, but those two were worse for the military. We'll see about Obama, the jury is still out.

Steve Hawley served in the military and has always supported them, even before he got elected to Albany.

Jul 20, 2009, 1:04pm Permalink
Cooper Hawley

David - How could you possibly take offense to a trip designed to connect American heroes with the monuments their national government created in their honor? Shame on you for politicizing such a gesture.

Jul 20, 2009, 4:02pm Permalink

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