Q: What is Veterans Day?
A: Veterans Day is a day to honor the brave men and women who have worn the uniforms of America’s armed services. Veterans Day is held on the 11th of November of each year because in 1918, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, an armistice was reached between the Allied nations and Germany to end World War I. Veterans Day was initially declared Armistice Day by President Woodrow Wilson in 1919. It was later changed to Veterans Day by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1954, to include all veterans, not just those who fought in World War I.
Q: What do the veterans contributions mean to you?
A:Contributions from veterans are important as these patriots have put or are putting their lives on hold while they put their lives on the line for freedom. Their sacrifices guarantee America’s promise for generations to come. Hundreds of thousands of Americans have paid the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the armed forces. The irreplaceable loss of those lives reminds us that freedom isn’t free. It’s sometimes easy to take for granted the hard won freedoms secured by past generations of American veterans, but as a society, we have a special obligation to those who have fought for their country to ensure that they are made whole upon their return. That’s why I have worked in the U.S. Senate on issues such as veterans suicide prevention, greater rural access to VA health care, and increased federal hiring of veterans. I have co-sponsored legislation including the Honoring Our Nation’s Obligation to Returning Warriors Act, which helps prepare military personnel for the mental stress associated with combat and gives veterans access to care for mental injuries. I also co-sponsored legislation, S. 2383 and S. 1146, which together take Veterans Affairs Health Care services on the road to the rural communities where veterans live and provide travel resources for veterans to get to medical care. I also want to make sure that all veterans receive the benefits to which they are entitled. That means helping to cut through red tape where there are problems. My office is available to assist any Iowan who is having difficulty with the VA or any government agency. Please don’t hesitate to come to me if you or someone you know needs this kind of assistance. I visited with many World War II veterans this year, as I have in past years, when they traveled to Washington, D.C. to visit the World War II Memorial through the Honor Flight Program, which pays for the travel of veterans to visit Washington to see the memorial dedicated to them. To learn more about this meaningful program, visit www.honorflight.org. It is remarkable to see these veterans achieve their dreams to see for the World War II Memorial that honors their service and the outcome of that war. I also had the honor in July of speaking at the opening ceremony for the Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Van Meter. It is important that those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country are formally remembered in their home state. I hope all Americans will take the opportunity this Veterans Day to pay respect to the veterans to whom we owe our freedom.