07.15.10

KTUU (NBC): Murkowski, Begich remember Maurice 'Mo' Bailey

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Alaska senators Lisa Murkowski and Mark Begich are remembering Maurice "Mo" Bailey, an advocate for Alaskan veterans who passed away Tuesday evening after a battle with leukemia.

Bailey enlisted in the army at the age of 17, and served for 20 years. He decided to stay in Alaska and founded the Veterans Aviation Outreach. Murkowski says Bailey never gave up his fight to obtain the Veterans Administration benefits he and others earned through their service.

"Just maybe Mo's story, which has been an inspiration to so many of us in Alaska, will also inspire the VA to do more and to do better," Murkowski said.

Begich also released a statement on Bailey's strong voice for Alaska's veterans.

"Mo's tireless efforts on behalf of rural veterans were instrumental in connecting them with much-needed services and support from the VA and other providers," Begich said in the statement.

Bailey was also awarded the Alaska Governor's Veterans Advocacy Award in 2007.

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Source: By Channel 2 News staff. Originally published July 15, 2010