Under the leadership of John F. Penn, Vice President and Regional Manager, the Laborers’ Midwest Region formed a Veterans’ Affairs Committee in the fall of 2009. The committee is comprised of leaders among the Laborers’ District Councils, Locals, and Retiree Councils who have served in the U.S. military. The purpose of our committee is to assist our members who are veterans, members on active duty, and their families by holding the government and elected officials accountable for their service related needs. The Laborers’ Veterans Affairs Committee also encourages union members to get involved with other veterans organizations and take an active role in forming alliances to advocate for veterans’ issues.