Every so often New Mexico ends up on the top of a list of which residents can be proud. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, the State of New Mexico is now ranked number one per capita in the nation for veterans receiving compensation and pension benefits from the V.A.

The New Mexico Department of Veterans' Services reports that New Mexico's 185,000 veterans generate an estimated $1 billion tax free dollars through their pensions, disability service connected payments, retirements, dependent payments, educational benefits and other state and federal veteran and dependent compensation benefits and services.

The New Mexico veteran population has increased 7 percent over the last 10 years and represents 10 percent of the state population. Veteran-owned businesses are growing and generating economic dollars and jobs throughout the state. The Veterans G.I. Bill provides funding for education, on the job training, and apprenticeship programs in excess of $10 million dollars a year for more than 4,400 veterans, reservists and their dependents. The Veterans Administration spent nearly $630 million in 2004 serving New Mexico's 185,000 veterans. Last year, 58,619 New Mexico Veterans received health care and 31,270 Veterans and their survivors received disability compensation or pension payments from the VA in New Mexico.

Also, more than 4,400 Veterans and Reservists used GI Bill payments for their education; and 23,900 owned homes with active VA home loan guarantees. A total of 1,547 veterans in New Mexico were interred in Ft. Bayard and Santa Fe national cemeteries.

With great strides in servicing New Mexico's Veteran population having been made in the last three years, and many more yet to be realized, and with Gov. Bill Richardson's support of the Legislature, the New Mexico Department of Veterans' Services has embarked on many programs and initiatives beneficial to New Mexico veterans.

As well it should be. New Mexico veterans and their families should be one of our top priorities.