The veterans won the first battle hands down.

"In all the years I've come up here, I've never seen an appropriations bill of any size pass with 100 percent support," said Everett Hoddy of Ogden. He was among almost 100 veterans from across the state who descended in the House gallery to watch the vote.

Among the veterans was Medal of Honor recipient George E. Wahlen, who was specially honored by the House for his actions in World War II.

Necks craned to see the big screen TVs in the gallery that recorded each "yes" vote. They then cheered and gave a standing ovation to the representatives.

For a moment it appeared House Bill 129, sponsored by Rep. Brad Dee, R-Washington Terrace, was only going to get 74 "yes" votes, with one absent vote. Rep. Patrick Painter, R-Nephi, had stepped off the House floor to speak with a constituent about another matter.

When he returned the voting was closed, but representatives voted to let Painter cast a "yes" vote.

The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration and the veterans said they plan to watch that vote.

House Speaker Greg Curtis, R-Sandy, said the Senate leadership supports the bill.

For the past four years, veterans have tried to get funding for the veterans' home, but were not successful until this year. The federal government has told state leaders it will reimburse the state 65 percent of the construction cost within five years, Dee said.

Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. put the nursing home in his budget request this year as a definite item.

Dee said the bill was not a partisan one and had support from Republicans and Democrats.

It was the veterans who sacrificed and "allowed us our freedoms and so we can meet in this chamber today," Dee said. "We need to send the message we do care and we do remember their sacrifices."

Dee choked back tears when he talked about his father and father-in-law, both of whom were shot down during service in World War II.

One of those who sacrificed was retired Air Force Col. Jay Hess of Farmington. He was shot down in Vietnam and spent "2,029 long days in captivity," he said.

Having a nursing home in Weber County is appropriate because of all the military and retired military personnel who live in the area, Hess said.

John Sheets, who served four years in the Air Force during the Korean War, said he didn't think legislators would move as fast as they did on appropriating the money.

"Now it goes to the Senate," Sheets said. "But today is a tremendous day. 75 to 0, that's great."

"Just one thing, in the veterans' eyes you're the House of heroes," said Terry Schow, director of Utah Veterans Affair, during a press conference after the morning session was over.

Many representatives talked about family members and friends who served in the military. One of those was Rep. Kerry Gibson, R-West Weber.

Gibson said one of his constituents, who is a Purple Heart recipient, asked him to support the nursing home.

"I have warm and tender feelings in my heart for those men and women who have served us," Gibson said. "I've had the honor over the past several years to recognize the families of the fallen soldiers who died in the line of duty."

Rep. Neil Hansen, D-Ogden, said it's time for the state to serve those who have served the nation.

HB 129, Appropriation for Construction of a Veterans' Nursing Home in Ogden

Sponsor: Rep. Brad Dee, R-Washington Terrace

The bill would appropriate $19.7 million to build a nursing home for veterans on 13 acres west of the Weber County Fairgrounds.