Senator Duckworth Honors and Celebrates Veterans

Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator from Illinois, Tammy Duckworth, who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years and is a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, celebrated Veterans Day today.  Duckworth honored Veterans and their families during the City of Belleville’s 26th Annual Veterans Day Ceremony alongside Belleville Mayor Patty Gregory and John Lawson, Superintendent for the Veterans Assistance Commission at St. Clair County.

“Veterans Day is a day of celebration, it’s a moment for all of us to take some time to recognize and honor the service of everyone willing to put on the uniform and sacrifice to keep our great nation safe,” Duckworth said.  “Despite the risks, despite the danger, thousands of the bravest people that you and I could ever meet still volunteer to serve in our country’s uniform every year.  And when these heroes come home, they deserve more than just an ovation on Veterans Day itself.  They deserve to be honored the other 364 days of the year, as well.  They deserve access to good-paying jobs, high-quality accessible health care, affordable housing, and much more.”

Duckworth began the day helping distribute meals with the St. Louis Area Food Pantry and meeting with food-insecure Veterans in Belleville.