The month of July 2019 is hereby proclaimed as Hire a Veteran Month in the State of Minnesota by Governor Walz. 

The proclamation reads as follows:

WHEREAS: There are approximately 327,000 veterans residing in Minnesota, 153,000 of whom are of working age; and

WHEREAS: There are over 20,000 Minnesotans presently serving in the United States Armed Forces, including active duty, National Guard, and Reserve forces; and

WHEREAS: Service members receive extensive skills training in a broad range of technical areas that correlate directly to civilian occupations, and as a result of their military experience have gained leadership and management perspectives that are invaluable to employers in both the public and private sectors; and

WHEREAS: Veterans have the ability and enthusiasm to tackle new challenges based on intensive skills training, leadership training, and experience gained through military service; and

WHEREAS: Veterans are intelligent, resourceful leaders who have produced positive results in the most difficult environments, bringing the skills and experience necessary to make Minnesota’s workforce stronger; and

WHEREAS: Veterans returning from deployments face higher unemployment rates and experience more challenges entering the workforce and advancing in their careers than the general population; and

WHEREAS: Returning veterans constitute the “Next Greatest Generation” of leaders and workers for Minnesota and the nation; and

WHEREAS: The 13th Annual Minnesota Veterans Career Fair, the largest of its kind in the state, will be July 24, from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Earle Brown Heritage Center in Brooklyn Center, MN.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, TIM WALZ, Governor of Minnesota, do hereby proclaim the month of July 2019, as HIRE A VETERAN MONTH in the State of Minnesota.