MANCHESTER — Members of the New Hampshire Department of the American Legion received words of support, encouragement and gratitude Friday from members of the state's congressional delegation.

The Legion's annual state convention opened Friday at the downtown Radisson Hotel, where as many as 500 members are expected this weekend.

U.S. Sens. Kelly Ayotte and Jeanne Shaheen as well as U.S. Rep. Frank Guinta briefly addressed the audience of Legionnaires with updates on a range of topics concerning military veterans, including health care and the federal budget.

“It's so important to make sure that we honor the commitment that you have made by making sure that you don't' have to fight for the benefits that you've earned, but that they are there in place for you as a result to your commitment to our country,” said Guinta, who had to stop briefly for a loud round of applause.

Guinta, a Republican and former mayor of Manchester, said one of his goals is to expand the services offered at the city's Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center so patients don't have to travel to Boston or the VA hospital in White River Junction, Vt. Ayotte touched on the same topic during her opening remarks.

“I think it's an outrage, frankly, that New Hampshire is effectively the only state in the nation without a full-service veterans hospital, yet we per capita have the second-highest rate of veterans in the country,” said Ayotte, a Republican and former state attorney general. “This is a state that serves and our country owes a responsibility to those who serve that they get the very best health care and access to health care. And it's unacceptable that too many of our veterans have to be shipped to Vermont or to Boston and wait on buses when they should be getting the care that they deserve here in the state of New Hamsphire.”

Ayotte's statement also received rousing cheers. A member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Ayotte noted she is the wife of a veteran. Her husband, Joe Daley, is a veteran of the war in Iraq who and retired as a lieutenant colonel from the Air National Guard.

Ayotte spoke of her efforts to require the Defense Department to improve the quality of prosthetics needed by veterans who lost one or more limbs while serving. She also said members of Congress trying to balance the budget should avoid making drastic cuts in defense spending.

“We all know that we have to deal with our national debt. But I don't think that we should undermine our national security and put our country at risk,” Ayotte said. “We can address this national debt in a responsible way.”

Shaheen, who serves with Ayotte on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said “across-the-board” cuts are a threat in the future if Congress fails to come up with a solution soon.

“I think we've got to solve this problem and we need to solve it in a big way,” said Shaheen, New Hampshire's only Democrat in Congress. “We need to look at all the aspects of the budget — the domestic, the defense, the mandatory programs and the revenue side — and we need to get a big deal done so that we're not facing these cuts in the future. I'm optimistic that there's enough appreciation in Washington that this has to be done that that's going to happen before the end of this year.”

U.S. Rep. Charlie Bass was also scheduled to speak during Friday's opening but was running behind schedule.

Ayotte spoke first, followed by Shaheen and Guinta. Both Ayotte and Guinta mentioned a veterans' cemetery in the Philippines that has been neglected in the years since the U.S. military withdrew from Clark Air Force Base in 1991.

Guinta said there is funding set aside for the Clark Veterans Cemetery, but different agencies can't agree on who will be responsible for restoring and maintaining the site.

“I saw pictures of how it looks. As an American, I'm embarrassed that we would allow any veterans cemetery to have grass 3-4 feet high, trash thrown all over the place,” Guinta said. “It doesn't only send a bad message or negative message to our military personnel, but it sends an alarming message around the world.”

The convention agenda for Friday included registration of delegates and alternates to the Legion's national convention, committee meetings and district caucuses. On Saturday, financial discussions and planning are to be followed by nominations for department officers, elections and a banquet in the evening.

The convention ends Sunday with a ceremonial wreath laying in Veterans Park.