Gallego Invites Navajo Marine Corps Veterans He Served with in Iraq Two Decades Ago as State of the Union Guests

March 06, 2024

Gallego Invites Navajo Marine Corps Veterans He Served with in Iraq Two Decades Ago as State of the Union Guests

Cheston and John Bailon, brothers and members of the Navajo Nation, served in Lima 3/25 with Rep. Gallego in Iraq

WASHINGTON - Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-03) announced brothers John and Cheston Bailon as his 2024 State of the Union guests.

"When I met John and Cheston in the Marine Corps, I was immediately struck by their warrior spirits," said Rep. Ruben Gallego. "Their drive and bond with each other was something I saw when we were in Iraq. They embody what it means to live the American Dream-to put your country first-and to never back down from a fight. I've come to closely know their families, their Navajo heritage, and what it means to be a Native veteran. They're like brothers to me, and I'm proud to have them join me for this year's State of the Union."

John and Cheston Bailon, Diné and Kewa Pueblo, demonstrated dedicated service alongside Ruben while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps and on a combat deployment to Iraq in 2005.

John is the Board President at Hesperus, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering educational and employment pathways for Native youth and veterans through innovative technological initiatives. John, an Arizona State University graduate, works in research and development (R&D) at Sandia National Laboratories.

Cheston Bailon served in combat with Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines. After his service, Cheston graduated from Arizona State University. He is also currently working at Sandia National Laboratories.

"We knew Ruben before he was Congressman Gallego-back when he was a Marine from Harvard," said John and Cheston Bailon. "Over the years, we've come to know his family and have seen him rise from the hard-charging Marine to a member of Congress. At the same time, he's never forgotten where he came from. He's always put the voices of everyday Americans first, and we're proud of his work for veterans and Tribal communities. We're proud to join him at this year's State of the Union."

The memories and experiences Rep. Gallego shares with John and Cheston continue to motivate the work he does in Congress. As a House Veterans Affairs Committee member, Rep. Gallego proudly worked to get the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxins (PACT) Act signed into law in 2022. The law expands access to VA health care and benefits to over 3.5 million veterans exposed to toxic substances during their military service. And, as a senior House Armed Services Committee member, he is a fierce advocate for servicemembers and their families.

As the former chair of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indigenous Peoples, Rep. Gallego has led several efforts to support Tribal communities, including authoring the Native American Child Protection Act, which reauthorizes and expands on programs for Tribes to investigate, treat, prevent, and prosecute child abuse. The legislation passed the House last year and is currently under consideration in the Senate.

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