SDDVA Secretary Whitlock’s November column – “Honoring the Legacy of our Veterans’ Service”

By Mitchell Now November 7, 2023 9:39 am

There are many honors and responsibilities that come with my job, but none are more humbling than visiting one-on-one with our veterans and their families. Hearing their stories – stories that need to be told – is inspiring.

Two great projects that have afforded me this opportunity are our “Veterans, What’s Brewing” outreach events and South Dakota’s Fallen Hero Bridge dedication ceremonies.

“What’s Brewing” allows our team to visit with veterans and hear first-hand about issues they might be experiencing. These outreach events also give us a chance to brief veterans on new benefits and services. As the advocates for South Dakota veterans, it is crucial for our entire team to know what challenges our veterans are facing.

To date, South Dakota has dedicated 41 Fallen Heroes Bridges, honoring 44 veterans. These dedications have afforded us the opportunity to visit with thousands of friends and family members of the veterans. The signs that mark these bridges are a daily reminder of the sacrifices that the brave men and women in uniform made for our state and country.

General George Patton once said, “it is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather, we should thank God that such men lived.”

Veterans are part of an unbroken chain of Americans who served this country. Their service has been selfless, and their accomplishments have been extraordinary. They saw their country threatened and they signed up to confront that threat. That is something for every American to be proud of. That is the spirit that America loves.

This Veterans Day, I challenge all of you to find a veteran, extend your hand, and thank them for their service. Write a note of thanks, perform a random act of kindness, or donate to a charity on their behalf. Let us never forget the sacrifices our veterans and their families have made. Let us never stop trying to build a better world. And let us all draw strength from our veterans’ long legacy of service.

Greg Whitlock, Secretary
South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs

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