Navy Lt. Cmdr. Kasim Yarn made a pledge for Gov. Gina Raimondo.
“I will never bring you problems without solutions,” said Rhode Island’s first director of veterans affairs yesterday at the …
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Navy Lt. Cmdr. Kasim Yarn made a pledge for Gov. Gina Raimondo.
“I will never bring you problems without solutions,” said Rhode Island’s first director of veterans affairs yesterday at the family assistance center at the armory on Airport Road in Warwick.
Joining the table for the announcement of Yarn’s appointment was Brig. Gen. Christopher Callahan, the adjutant general and commanding general of the Rhode Island National Guard, and a cross section of state representatives and senators, representatives from various veterans organizations, Mayor Scott Avedisian, and Health and Human Services Secretary Elizabeth Roberts.
Yarn gave a brief sketch of his background, saying it wasn’t 24 hours after graduating from high school that he enlisted in the Navy. While a native of Mississippi – and in his words, “a big guy and a hugger” – Yarn said, “my home is here and my heart is here.”
It was what veterans organizations wanted to hear.
Erik Wallin, executive director of Operation Stand Down, embraced Yarn’s goal to bring a coordinated statewide effort to assisting veterans. In his remarks, Yarn said he would need the help of the state’s educational institutions, human services groups, non-profit organizations, legislative leaders, and a multitude of other agencies and individuals.
“We can’t do this alone,” he said. Referring to veterans, he said he is there to listen to them, stand beside them, and stand behind them.
Warwick Ward 3 Councilwoman Camille Vella-Wilkinson, a veteran who has been highly visible in veteran issues, said, “anyone can say they support veterans but when action happens then we know they are serious.”
Raimondo is serious.
The Rhode Island General Assembly created the Cabinet-level director position in 2011, but it had been left vacant and unfunded until recently.
“We owe our veterans a debt of gratitude for the sacrifices they and their families have made on our behalf,” Raimondo said in a statement. “Kasim has spent nearly half of his life in the armed forces and more than a decade of his military career living in Rhode Island. He understands the unique challenges veterans and their families face and will be an advocate for every veteran in Rhode Island.”
From Cranston Rep. Robert Lancia’s perspective, a priority should be the elimination of the state tax on veterans’ pensions. Lancia said other states don’t tax the pensions and that the Rhode Island tax is driving veterans out of the state.
“We’re losing the talent and expertise,” he said, calling for a “vet friendly environment.” Elimination of the tax is projected to cost the state $3 million in lost revenues the first year and $6 million the second. Keeping veterans as residents, Lancia suggested, may prove the difference between keeping and losing a House seat in Congress.
Submarine veteran Paul Kelley lamented how veterans aren’t welcomed in Rhode Island schools and how their stories are being lost as they die. Callahan vowed to follow up with Kelley.
“We haven’t done enough,” said Warwick Sen. Erin Lynch, adding, “I never think it will be enough.”
Yarn first moved to Rhode Island in 1995, where he was assigned to Naval Station Newport and met his wife, Rosaria. While living in Rhode Island, he earned a bachelor’s degree from Boston University and a master’s degree from Newport’s Naval War College.
Yarn has completed four deployments, including missions in Europe and support missions in the Middle East as a part of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. During his career, he has been stationed for various assignments in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Illinois, Virginia, and Mississippi.
When approached about the position, Yarn said it was an answer to the question, “what can I give back to the state that has given me so much?”
According to a release, under Yarn’s direction, the Division of Veterans Affairs will build additional capacity to support veterans and military families. He is committed to improving and expanding the division’s outreach capacities to help veterans from all combat transition into civilian life. Yarn also plans to improve access to education and training opportunities that lead to meaningful work for veterans and help them to successfully navigate services and benefits.
Yarn will officially assume the role later this spring upon retiring from the U.S. Navy, though he will begin meeting with staff immediately. In the weeks ahead, Yarn plans to launch a listening tour and hold meetings with veterans organizations across the state. Yarn will report directly to Raimondo and will be a participating member of the Health and Human Services Secretariat.
Yarn is a decorated naval officer. His service awards include four U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, three Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, a Good Conduct Medal, and several campaign and service awards. He and his wife live in Saunderstown. They have two adult children who attended local public schools.
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richardcorrente
Veterans and seniors deserve our total respect.
Warwick should reduce the car tax by 50% for both groups. As Mayor I will strongly support this "gesture of respect."
E-mail your comments to "correntemayorwarwick.com" or call me at 401-338-9900. I'd love to hear your opinion.
Enjoy the spring-like weather.
Richard Corrente
Democrat for Mayor
Friday, February 19, 2016 Report this
Justanidiot
Mayer Corrente,
Nobody deserves total respect just because they belong to a group. It is like saying that the General Assembly deserves total respect because some members in the past did something that benefits us today.
You start lumping people together with vague associations and you open the system up to corruption and graft. Just look at how Rhode Island is run.
Saturday, February 20, 2016 Report this
RISchadenfreude
“I will never bring you problems without solutions”, which is a great philosophy since he's not likely to get any useful solutions from Giner and her cabal.
Monday, February 22, 2016 Report this
RISchadenfreude
Justanidiot, you're on to something there- it's as ridiculous as saying "(your group here) lives matter" or that one minority or special interest group (race, LGBLTWTFLOL, or whatever they're calling themselves this week) is more important than the other when all lives matter, unless they've proven that they're an ongoing threat to society.
Monday, February 22, 2016 Report this
Justanidiot
RISchadenfreude, so true.
I don't care if someone is gay, trans, black, white, Catholic, atheist, Martian, (insert group here)
Take your "greatest" generation. How many volunteered or were drafted? How many profited greatly from the black market here and abroad? How many desertions were there in Europe by members of the US Army?
Judge men by the character of their heart and not by which group they are associated with.
Monday, February 22, 2016 Report this