MONTGOMERY, Ala. ( WSFA ) - The Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs celebrated their 80th anniversary with a luncheon in Montgomery Friday afternoon.

Gov. Kay Ivey (R-Alabama) spoke at the event, thanking the department for the work they do to support Alabama’s 400 thousand veterans and their families.

“I challenge each of you to join me in making Alabama the ‘#1 state’ for veterans and their families,” said Gov. Ivey.

Earlier this year, Gov. Ivey made the Alabama Dept. of Veterans Affairs a part of her cabinet, and she appointed Brigadier General Jeffrey Newton the commissioner of the ADVA.

“In the past, we’ve been an independent agency kind of in the background, but now we’re in the foreground,” said Commissioner Newton. “We’re opening doors with this new position, and it’s been

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