I come from a long line of men who have served, and I have been proud to serve myself – business owners and community leaders, like my late father, Deacon Floyd L. Gripping Sr. and grandfather, Rev. Willis Gripping. Georgia born and raised men who kept the faith and fought the good fight and fomented “good trouble.” Old builders who worked hard, prayed even harder and led by example.
Men of fortune, like my eldest son, Brian E. Gripping, who served in the army for 30 years before retiring as a colonel like his father. And my grandson Jamal Gripping, a patriot who defends our democracy as a distinguished member of the US armed forces. Four generations of Gripping Men have served with bravery. We know what it means to “take the helm”. Service is what we do.
The men in my family, each in their own way, have shown through their actions that serving others is about doing the right thing when no one is looking, because that’s the right thing and the most sincere thing. If you are trying to serve others well, you must first show up and be present. Jesus said, “I am among you as the servant.”
Rev. Warnock is well versed in the intricacies of military service. His father, Pastor Jonathan Warnock, was a veteran like my father.
Physical health, psychological conditions, relationships with others and the environment in which one lives are considered indicators of a high quality of life. Unfortunately, many of these quality of life indicators can be impacted when faced with challenges such as extreme anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other long-term stressors as a result of military service. The sacrifices made by our military families are rarely understood, and their plight is often ignored.
I commanded the 92nd Battalion of Engineers at Fort Stewart, Georgia where, decades later, Rev. Warnock secured funding from the same military base to upgrade their barracks. And now he’s introduced a new bill of laws to help soldiers and their families across Georgia get safe, affordable housing.
But his work for veterans doesn’t stop there. Rev. Warnock advocates for the right to health care, including the health services received by Georgia veterans and Georgia-based military families. Reverend Warnock is fighting to expand access to health care for veterans, and after months of advocating, PACT legislation was signed into law, which will provide health care to nearly 350,000 Georgia veterans exposed to toxic burn pits.
He was a leader in the fight to protect and support military jobs. He secured a pay rise for Georgia active-duty and civilian personnel and opposed President Biden’s proposed cuts to the Savannah Combat Readiness Training Center, successfully protecting the critical center’s funding in the Senate appropriation proposal.
And he is fighting to help Georgia’s homeless veterans, securing $2.5 million in federal funding to give homeless veterans access to job training so they can reintegrate into the workforce.
However, Rev. Warnock knows there is more work to be done for our veterans and military families. I am proud to support Rev. Warnock because I know he will always bring the voices and concerns of Georgia’s veterans, military personnel and military families to the forefront of his Senate work.
I appeal to the hearts and minds of all Georgians who understand the importance of having a leader who will continue to fight for our veterans and military families to re-elect Rev. Warnock in November.
Floyd L Gripping jr
Milledgeville
