November 11, 2023

In Chicago, Duckworth Underscores the Importance of Showing Up for Our Nation’s Veterans Year-Round

Today’s events come just days after the Senator introduced a comprehensive package to help stop servicemember and veteran deportation

 

[CHICAGO, IL] — Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years, honored Veterans and their families today during the City of Chicago’s Veterans Day Commemoration Ceremony. During the ceremony, Duckworth also emphasized the importance of honoring Veterans every day of the year, not just on Veterans Day, and highlighted her efforts at the federal level to support those who have served, including her push to protect and support immigrant Veterans and servicemembers who have proven they are willing to make tremendous sacrifices to defend our nation. Photos from the City of Chicago ceremony are available on the Senator’s website.

“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.”

Duckworth continued: “We all can do our part to honor these heroes. Just this week, I re-introduced three bills to support our brave immigrant servicemembers and Veterans. This package that would help make it easier for them to become citizens, live with their families and ensure those who have already been deported can come back on U.S. soil to access the life-saving VA care they earned and deserve, but may currently be barred from accessing. These Veterans fought for this country, and it’s past time we fight for them too.”

The Senator also joined several Loyola University officials today including President Mark C. Reed, Office of Military Veteran Student Services Director Alex Parilla and Kelly McCabe, a student Veteran of the Marine Corps, for the grand opening of Loyola University Chicago’s Veteran Center. Duckworth highlighted that centers like these are critical in providing resources and services for Veteran students and their families and creating a sense of community among military affiliated students. As a result, a center can help improve retention and graduation rates for student Veterans. Photos from the grand opening are available on the Senator’s website.

Following the City’s ceremony, Duckworth joined Illinois State Senator Robert Peters (IL-SD-13), Alderman Peter Chico (10th Ward), Cook County Commissioner Dennis Deer (2nd District), American Legion South Deering Post 1238 Commander Joe Sanchez and Southeast Side Vietnam Veterans President Larry Kutz in a ceremony to pay tribute to Veterans in the South Chicago community, including the 12 servicemembers from the Our Lady of Guadalupe parish, Chicago’s first Mexican-American Catholic church, who were killed in action in Vietnam. Duckworth and the group also highlighted the need to restore the community’s Vietnam Veterans memorial and mural, which honors those 12 parishioners. Photos from the Veterans mural event are available on the Senator’s website.

  

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