Dear fellow King County employee,

For more than a century, our nation has dedicated November 11 as the day to recognize the brave members of our country’s armed forces, past and present. They placed their own lives at risk to defend freedom here at home and around the world. Veterans Day is our opportunity to honor and thank them for their service.

King County is home to 115,000 veterans of all ages. More than 1,200 of our King County colleagues are veterans, working alongside us in every department and every branch of our government. So far this year, 93 of our colleagues have recorded military service hours with the reserves, national guard, or active duty, continuing their service to our nation. We are grateful for everything they do for our nation and our county.

In King County we support our local veterans not just through words but through actions. In 2017, voters approved for the third time the Veterans, Seniors and Human Services Levy, which supports veterans, servicemembers, and their families, and funds the King County Veterans Program. This program removes barriers and provides services to empower veterans, servicemembers, and their families in achieving their greatest potential.

Our goal is to ensure that every returning veteran has the support they need to achieve a safe, healthy, and productive life when they come home. It’s one way we honor their service: giving back to those who have given so much.

Veterans Day is Friday, November 11. Please join me in thanking our veterans and active duty personnel for their courage, commitment, and ongoing contributions to our country and to our community.

Sincerely,

Dow Constantine (he/him/his)
King County Executive