The Rubio for Senate campaign today released the “Veterans for Marco” coalition, a team of nearly 190 veterans who are standing behind Marco in his bid for re-election. The members of the coalition will spread Marco’s message throughout the state and tell voters why Marco is the only candidate who will ensure veterans get the care they deserve and keep our nation safe during a time of great threat.
Marco has been a strong voice in bringing to light one of the most pressing federal issues facing Floridians – the negligence and inefficiency of the Department of Veterans Affairs, which has prevented Florida’s veterans from receiving the care they deserve. In 2014, Marco led the charge in the Senate to bring accountability to the VA by sponsoring the 2014 VA reform bill that became law and authorizes the VA secretary to fire incompetent or corrupt managers. Since then, Marco has continued to work with other Republican leaders to further hold the VA accountable for its deficiencies.
Marco’s commitment to veterans is also personal one. His older brother, Mario Rubio, served in the Army’s 7th Special Forces Group – the Green Berets – from July 1968 to April 1971. Marco’s office has worked on thousands of VA constituent cases, including his brother’s, all of which have given him an up-close look at the struggles our veterans go through to receive the care they have earned. Furthermore, Marco was a co-sponsor of legislation to honor the Borinqueneers with a Congressional Gold Medal. Serving our nation’s veterans will remain one of Marco’s top priorities in the U.S. Senate.
“In a state like Florida with more than 1.5 million veterans, we need a representative like Marco who will stand up to the Department of Veterans Affairs and do everything it takes to ensure veterans are treated with the care they deserve. Marco has continuously made decisions in the best interest of our nation’s veterans and I am honored to support him in his bid for re-election.” – Florida Representative Mike Hill, Captain (ret.) U.S. Air Force
“As a Borinqueneer, I am proud to stand behind Marco as he seeks re-election to the U.S. Senate. Marco was instrumental in securing the Congressional Gold Medal for us and I am forever grateful for his efforts on behalf of the 65th Infantry Regiment. He understands the sacrifices we’ve made and the hardships we’ve endured, and I look forward to working hard to ensure a victory onNovember 8.” – Raul Reyes Castañeira, Borinqueneer
“Veterans need Marco in Congress to continue working on their behalf. As a veteran who has made the greatest sacrifice to defend our liberties and freedoms, I trust Marco to continue helping all veterans get what they were promised upon return. In the last month of the election, I look forward to campaigning for Marco to ensure a victory on November 8.” – Chris Hart, Lt. Col. (ret.) U.S. Army
“There is no leader who compares to Marco when it comes to fighting for nation’s veterans. He isn’t just a politician who talks about how broken the VA system is, he actually did something about it. I am proud to support Marco this election, and I am excited to spread his message to Floridians across the state.” – John Craft, Master Chief (ret.), U.S. Navy
The complete list of the coalition is below:
Bay County
Warren Brookhart, Colonel, U.S. Air Force
Renee Byrd, U.S. Air Force
William Fitzgerald, Senior Master Sargent, U.S. Air Force
Tim Gibson, U.S. Army
Veronica Kemeny, Major, U.S. Air Force
Malcolm Kemeny, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Air Force
James Myers, U.S. Air Force
Doctor Michael Rohan
Loren Schroder, Colonel, U.S. Air Force
Maura Schroeder, U.S. Air Force
Patrick Super, U.S. Air Force
James Waterstradt, SFC, U.S. Army
Brevard County
Jim Kuzma, Captain
Jose “Rob” Medina, U.S. Marine Corps
Citrus County
James Black, MSgt, U.S. Air Force
Collier County
Ray Addison, E-5, U.S. Army
James (Jim) Albert, U.S. Navy
Terry A. Benham, Commander, U.S. Navy Reserves
Don Bergmann, U.S. Army
Jack Bills, U.S. Air Force
James John Brennan, U.S. Navy
Don Brooks, U.S. Army
Robert Cahners, U.S. Coast Guard
Willam Carl, Chief Petty Officer, U.S. Coast Guard
Joseph Cofield, U.S. Army
Raymond Colotti, U.S. Army
Mike Dean, U.S. Army
Michael (Mike) Dewitt, U.S. Army
Dr Terry Domino, U.S. Navy
Steve Donovan, U.S. Marine Corps
Floyd Foise, U.S. Marine Corps
Peter Fowler, U.S. Army Reserves
Joseph Jerry Gallagher, U.S. Marine Corps
Dave Gardner, U.S. Army
Frank Garofolo, Captain, U.S. Army
Art Garrison, U.S. Army
Mike Gigliello, U.S. Army
Dennis Hahm, U.S. Navy
Jesse Hardy, U.S. Navy
Earl (Sandy) Harter, Colonel, U.S. Army
JB Holmes, U.S. Air Force
Dusty Holmes, U.S. Army Nurse
Robert (Bob) Kasper, U.S. Air Force
Dave Kisner, U.S. Army
Peter Koenig, Lt, U.S. Navy Reserves
George Kouri, U.S. Army
Michael Lamelza, U.S. Navy
James Lane, Purple Heart Recipient & Silver Star Recipient, U.S. Army
Harold Leavitt, U.S. Army Air Corps
Mike Lyster, U.S. Navy
Stephen Mafuko, U.S. Marine Corps
Leo Maliska, U.S. Navy
Herbert McCord, U.S. Marine Corps
Robert McDonald, U.S. Army
Jimmy (James Elgan) McDonnell, E-4, U.S. Marine Corps
Michael Nadolski, U.S. Air Force
Ken Padgett, U.S. Air Force
Andrew Perfilio, U.S. Air Force
Ross Pickard, U.S. Navy
Walter Redden, U.S. Air Force
Alexander (Al) Romeo, U.S. Army
Dick Schmidt, U.S. Navy
Edward Shanabarger, U.S. Army
John Skiles, U.S. Navy
Wayne O Smith, U.S. Air Force
Fraser Smith, U.S. Air National Guard
Thomas Stuart, U.S. Army
Harvey Sturm, Jewish Veterans Chair & U.S. Army
Charles Sues, Colonel, WW2, U.S. Army
John Thomas, U.S. Army
Charles Togias, U.S. Army
Jim Tuohy, U.S. National Guard
Harold “Pappy” Wagner, U.S. Marine Corps
Edward Wlodarczyk, U.S. Army
Duval County
Raul Arias, Operation Specialist 3rd class (OS3), U.S. Navy
Fred Blaz, Sergeant, U.S. Marines
Ed Callao, Commander, U.S. Navy
Gary Campbell, U.S Navy
John Craft, Master Chief Petty Officer, U.S. Navy
Brian Dickey, Specialist (E-4), U.S. Army
George Horton, U.S. Army
Rommel Lopez-Gutierrez, E-5 Second class Petty Officer, U.S. Navy
Sean Mulcahy, E4, U.S. Coast Guard
Todd Nichols, U.S. Navy
Mario Rubio, Sergeant, U.S. Army
Escambia County
Dorothy Davis, O-5 Navy Commander (CDR), U.S. Navy
Representative Mike Hill, Captain, U.S. Air Force
Beege Welborn, Staff Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps
Flagler County
Glenn Laury, Commander, U.S. Navy
Hillsborough County
Rodney Akers, 1/Lt, U.S. Army
Steve Emerson, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps
Chris Hart, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army
Lee County
Timothy G. Cook, Captain, U.S. Navy
Wally Cortese, Petty Officer 1st Class, U.S. Navy
William Deile, Colonel, U.S. Army
Ralph Esposito, U.S. Marine Corps
Steven Fisher, E5, U.S. Air Force
Nikki Gowing, Medical Specialist, U.S. Navy
William Gruver, Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy Reserves
Arnold Haake, Captain, U.S. Army
Robert M. Hansen, Sonarman 2nd Class, U.S. Navy
Bill Janes, U.S. Army
Leon Koeplinger, U.S. Army
Robert Lomba, Lt. Commander, U.S. Navy
Rafael Lopez Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps
Richard McDowell, U.S. Army
Joseph Moran Major, U.S. Army
Robert O’Donnell, Master Sergeant, U.S. Army
Sean H. Powell, Purple Heart Recipient and Meritorious Service Medal Recipient, Damage Controlman Fireman, U.S. Navy
Ray Rignal, U.S. Navy
JD Salomé, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army
John Snyder, Private 1st Class, U.S. Marine Corps
Henry (Hank) Steil, U.S. Navy
Deborah Todd, U.S. Air Force
Leon County
Bill Helmich, Lance Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps
Warren “Rocky” McPherson, Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps
Robert Paynter, Corporal E4, U.S. Marine Corps
Anthony D. Stephens, Spc 4, U.S. Army
Madison County
Daniel Hunter, PFC (E3), U.S. Army
Manatee County
Myke Landers, Major, U. S Army
Steve Vernon, Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps
Miami-Dade County
Rep. Frank Artiles, Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps
Clifford Bishop, Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps
Frank Carrillo, 2nd Lieutenant, Florida Army National Guard
Julio De Castro, 2nd Lieutenant/Operation Mongoose, U.S. Army
Marco Gorrin, Staff Sergeant, U.S. Air Force
Eduardo Macaya, Sergeant, U.S. Army
Joseph Martory, Petty Officer 2nd Class, U.S. Navy
Juan Montoya, Staff Sergeant, Infantry, U.S. Army
Luis Fernando Moran, Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps
Adrian Ojeda, Specialist, U.S. Army
Ozzie Perez, Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps
Frank Sarli Spec-5, U.S. Army
Osmay Torres, Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy
Jose Vila, Private E-2/Operation Mongoose, U.S. Army
Alan Woods, Seaman First Class Rank E-3, U.S. Navy
Orange County
Richard Acosta, 65th Infantry, U.S. Army
Harry Almodovar, 65th Infantry, U.S. Army
Edwin Aviles, 65th Infantry, U.S. Army
Jorge Bonilla, U.S. Navy
Fernando Cabrera, Master Sergeant, U.S. Army National Guard
HT Paul Davis, 1st Cavalry 2nd Brigade/Sergeant, U.S. Army
Elizabeth Dilts, U.S. Army MP
Dennis Freytes, U.S. Army
Gary Gene Rhodes, Sergeant, U.S. Army
Nelson “Nico” Gonzalez, 65th Infantry, U.S. Army
Justin Krupa, 1st Cavalry 2nd Brigade/Specialist, U.S. Army
Angel Lugardo, 65th Infantry, U.S. Army
Samuel Rivera, 65th Infantry, U.S. Army
Angel Roura, 65th Infantry, U.S. Army
Anthony Suarez, U.S. Army
Osceola County
Carlos Asencio, U.S. Army
Victor Colon Rosa, 65th Infantry, U.S. Army
Rafael Donis, 65th Infantry, U.S. Army
Ferdinand Lopez, 65th Infantry, U.S. Army
Johnny Ramos, U.S Army
Moises Rivera, 65th Infantry, U.S. Army
Palm Beach County
Caitlin Cichoracki, Private, Army National Guard
Titus Folks, Petty Officer Second Class, U.S. Navy Reserve
Michael Giallombardo, Sergeant, U.S. Army
Pasco County
Greg Leonardo, PO3, U.S. Navy
Pinellas County
Larry Ahern, Staff Sergeant, U.S. Air Force
James Austin, E-5, U.S. Navy & National Guard
Mark Bircher, Brigadier General, U.S. Marine Corps
Robert Cannon, E-6, Staff Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps
Raul Reyes Castañeira, 65th Infantry, U.S. Army
Alan Goldsmith, Airman 1st Class, U.S. Air Force
Rob Risberg, Colonel, U.S. Army
Walter Steiner, Captain, O6, U.S. Navy
Daniel Tucker, A-T 1, U.S. Navy
Polk County
Michael Forbes, Sp-4, U.S. Army
Michael Holley, Senior Airman, U.S. Air Force
George Womble, PFC, U.S. Army
Santa Rosa County
Matt Hitpas, O-3 Lieutenant, U.S. Navy,
Sarasota County
Susie Hill, E4, U.S. Army
Peter O’Connor, LCDR, U.S. Navy
Barbara Miller Vaughn, Master Sergeant, U.S. Air Force
Seminole County
Anibal Albertorio, 65th Infantry, U.S. Army
Jose Colon 65th Infantry, U.S. Army
St. Johns County
Jim Snellen, U.S. Navy
Volusia County
James Pugh, Colonel, U.S. Air Force
John F (Jack) Welsh, Sergeant, U.S. Army
Wakulla County
Edward Brimner, Ret. Major, U.S. Air Force
Ralph C. Thomas, ETC (AW), Chief Petty Officer (E-7), U.S. Navy
The post Veterans For Marco Coalition appeared first on Marco Rubio for Senate.