Angus King

Let's get this done.

We have gotten less bullshit from you today than any witnesses I have ever heard.

You earn two separate benefits, you should get them, period. Richard Star, common sense.

Why don't we spend as much money on transition as we do on recruiting?

I think this is one of the most successful programs we are engaged in and we need to maintain our support and continue our oversight.

I hope that might be a bit of a focus of your work is to find ways to recognize and acknowledge those volunteers because I think they are really important.

I hope you will continue to do that because it is such a meaningful benefit and it is so meaningful to the families.

This is a sacred topic.

I think this is one of the most successful programs we are engaged in and we need to maintain our support and continue our oversight.

If your dog runs away you can still see him for 3 days.

I want to mention, and I should have mentioned before, I mentioned the Caribou cemetery. One of the key people in establishing that cemetery was Senator Collins' father.

I hope that might be a bit of a focus of your work is to find ways to recognize and acknowledge those volunteers because I think they are really important.

I hope you will continue to do that because it is such a meaningful benefit and it is so meaningful to the families.

Now I have a really important question. The flagpole at Togus has been damaged severely in a storm.

This is a sacred topic.

We now have another national cemetery at Acadia National Cemetery in Jonesboro.

I think this is one of the most successful programs we are engaged in and we need to maintain our support and continue our oversight.

I hope you will continue to do that because it is such a meaningful benefit and it is so meaningful to the families.

I think those are the unsung heroes.

This is a sacred topic.

I hope that might be a bit of a focus of your work is to find ways to recognize and acknowledge those volunteers because I think they are really important.

So if you can help me with getting the flagpole at Togus back into service that would be important to veterans in Maine.

That cemetery is full and it has no greater capacity.

Well, my experience has been that the Vet Centers in Maine are a high return, low cost service very cost-effective way of serving the needs, meeting the needs of veterans.

I would urge you to take a serious look at that. And we have had testimony at this Committee that this is one of the suicide factors.