Spartz to hold Veterans Roundtable at Noblesville VFW

By JON BALDWIN
Clay Township Military Library & Museum

Clay Township Military Library and Museum announces that Congresswoman Victoria Spartz will host a Veterans Roundtable right here in Hamilton County, giving local veterans a direct voice on the issues that matter most to them.

The roundtable will take place from 11 a.m. to noon on Monday, Aug. 17 at VFW Post 6246, 654 S. 9^th St., Noblesville. There is no cost to attend, and it is open to veterans and the community.

Why this matters to our mission

As the county’s only public military museum, our mission is to honor local veterans through an online Honor Roll, recorded oral histories, and detailed Veteran Profiles – work that intersects directly with the topics Rep. Spartz plans to discuss.

• Fixing funding for veterans: Rep. Spartz is pushing to fund the Major Richard Star Act, which would let combat-injured veterans forced to retire before 20 years of service receive both their full military retirement pay and disability benefits. This would end what advocates call the “wounded veteran tax.” This bill has bipartisan support and remains before Congress as part of a broader veterans’ benefits package.
• Long-overdue recognition for the Indiana Rangers: Rep. Spartz is working with the Secretary of the Army and Indiana National Guard to secure a valorous unit award and potentially a Presidential Unit Citation for the Indiana Rangers (Company D, 151st Infantry) – the only Army National Guard ground maneuver unit to serve in Vietnam, decorated 537 to 538 times in a single year, including 18 to 19 Silver Stars and over 100 Purple Hearts. This story of valor is exactly the kind of local military history our museum exists to preserve and share.
• VA and federal agency assistance: Constituents needing help with VA claims or other federal agencies can contact Rep. Spartz’s office directly at (317) 848-0201.

This roundtable is a rare chance for our community’s veterans – and the families and volunteers who support our museum’s Honor Roll and oral history projects – to speak directly with their representative about the funding, recognition, and support issues central to our shared mission.

Call to action

We encourage all veterans, family members, and supporters to attend and make their voices heard. Space at VFW Post 6246 is limited, so arrive early.