May is Military Appreciation Month, and it seems fitting that on the first day of this month, our military heroes took down America’s public enemy number one: Osama Bin Laden.

As a veteran, I have firsthand experience with the sacrifices our servicemen and women—and their families—make to defend our freedom. Our Fort Drum soldiers in the Tenth Mountain Division serve in the most deployed unit in the armed forces. Currently, there are over 10,000 soldiers from Fort Drum serving in Afghanistan—far away from their families and the comforts of home.

Here in Northern New York, Fort Drum makes substantial economic, social and cultural contributions to our community. In fact, in 2010, Fort Drum had a $1.5 billion economic impact on our tri-county region.

Given both the enormous sacrifices—and contributions—of our brave members of the military to our region and New York state, it only makes sense that the state should reciprocate that support. That’s why I am pleased to sponsor several bills that demonstrate our state’s commitment to supporting the members of our military and their families. Such legislation includes:

• A.6025, which would regulate protests at military funerals by authorizing local governments to establish a “buffer zone”, prohibiting protests of military funerals within 500 feet of a military funeral, burial, wake, memorial service or procession. I believe this legislation provides balance to the constitutionally protected right of free speech and the need for protection and privacy of mourning family and friends of deceased military men and women.
• A.1951, which would provide tuition benefits for active members of the New York National Guard up to the graduate level. This legislation expands on the success of Chapter 268 of the Laws of 1996 which provides tuition benefits for active members of the New York National Guard up to the achievement of a bachelor’s degree. Given that the better and higher paying jobs are more and more requiring advanced degrees, this measure allows members of the National Guard to have greater access to these jobs and encourages those with high level educations and talents to remain in our state.

Finally, in March, Governor Cuomo signed into law legislation that gives county board of elections additional time prior to special elections for military ballots to be mailed overseas to allow such voters to cast their ballots. Prior to this law, special elections were held between 30 and 40 days from their announcement. This measure increases that time to between 70 and 80 days so that our servicemen and women serving overseas have sufficient time to receive their ballots and cast their votes.

The members of our military and their families make tremendous sacrifices on behalf of the freedoms we enjoy. Our state has a duty to support our military in any small way we can, as they give us back so much more.