The 75-year anniversary of the G.I. Bill was Saturday, June 22nd. Two Kansas Senators, Jerry Moran and Pat Roberts, introduced legislation Friday, June 21st, to award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to a Kansas native, former Topeka lawyer, and WWI veteran who authored the original G.I. Bill to Harry Colmery.

 

The tow Republican senators led their congressional colleagues urging President Trump to honor Colmery for his support of veterans. The G.I. Bill's name was originally the Serviceman's Readjustment Act of 1944 which Colmery witnessed President Roosevelt sign.

 

In 2017, Mr. Colmery legacy was honored when the Forever G.I. Bill was signed into law. It enhanced and expanded education benefits to veterans, service members, families and survivors.

 

Today, the VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System in Topeka bears his name, the Colmery-O’Neil VA Medical Center.

 

(Photo courtesy of The American Legion)