This weekend, we celebrate Veterans Day and honor America's veterans who have served with duty, loyalty and selfless courage.
Veterans Day is a time to pay homage to the men and women who gave their lives in defense of our freedom. As we remember those who have fallen, we take time to honor those who are serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and military outposts around the world.
Over a half-a-million Wisconsin soldiers fought for our country. On Veterans Day, we pay tribute to each and every one of them. Without their service and dedication, our state would not be the great place it is today.
Veterans are not only heroes because of what they do in the field, but they are also heroes because of who they are and what they do once they return home.
For instance, last month, Staff Sgt. Eugene Moran of Soldiers Grove, Wis., was awarded the first-ever Veteran Lifetime Achievement Award by the Wisconsin Board of Veteran Affairs for not only his exemplary service in WWII, but also for his outstanding contributions to the state of Wisconsin. Staff Sgt. Moran was seriously injured while on a bombing mission and taken as a prisoner of war. After he was liberated, he went on to be awarded two Purple Hearts, the Air Medal with Gold Leaf Cluster, the European Theater Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal. When he returned to the United States, he continued to serve Wisconsin by working with Veterans organizations, serving on the Crawford County Board of Supervisors, spending 20 years as chief of the Soldiers Grove Volunteer Fire Department, 30 years as a fire warden and helping charter the Soldiers Grove Rescue Squad.
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Staff Sgt. Moran exemplifies what the strong character and the attitude towards service that make our service men and women great. I am always humbled by the service and sacrifice of our veterans to ensure our American way of life. The veterans who have returned home -- and those who will -- have earned our deepest respect and most profound gratitude.
Just as our veterans have made sacrifices, the families of our service members have made sacrifices as well. When we honor veterans, it is only right that we thank their families and honor them for their sacrifices. These families also sacrifice and serve. Thank you for what you do for America by sharing the precious gift of your loved ones with our nation.
As governor, I am committed to ensuring that the State of Wisconsin continues to honor its debt to each and every one of our veterans. We can never repay the debt we owe them and their loved ones. But in Wisconsin, we try.
On behalf of the people of Wisconsin, I want to thank those who have served or are serving our country.
