Governor talks up program for vets in appearance on USS Midway

A campaign to connect the 30,000 veterans returning home to California every year with the services they need to make the transition from active duty was touted Thursday by the governor, who spoke on the flight deck of the USS Midway Museum.

Through “Operation Welcome Home” veterans will get help accessing benefits such as employment assistance, job training, education, housing, health care, family support and Department of Veterans Affairs benefits.

“Operation Welcome Home is bringing the state, federal and local governments, nonprofits, volunteers and the private sector together to create a one-stop shop for our men and women in uniform when they return home,’’ Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said.

“All across our state, we are demonstrating our commitment to our veterans,” he said. “We are doing more than thanking them. We are showing them our gratitude through our actions.’’

Schwarzenegger first announced Operation Welcome Home during his state-of-the-state address in January.

Through the program, outreach teams throughout the state will help to build local community networks to help veterans, according to the governor’s office.