At the forefront of my mind today is my son, Petty Officer David Nash, who served honorably in the Navy as a corpsman for six years. Proud doesn't even come close to expressing how I feel about his service. He and all of our veterans prove that dedication to duty, courage in the face of danger, and commitment to freedom and democracy are alive and well in our nation today.

I attended a Veterans Day ceremony at Chaska Middle School West yesterday, and I was excited to see so many people come out to honor the service of veterans in our community. As we express our gratitude, let's also make sure that the sacrifices of our veterans are never forgotten, and that we continue to honor their legacy.

This year, I was proud to champion a Veterans funding bill that provided our heroes with the resources they need and deserve:

• Additional funding in bonus payments to post 9/11 veterans and expanded eligibility so that more veterans could receive this financial support;
• Funding for new Veterans homes in Bemidji, Montevideo, and Preston; and
• Increased Veterans GI tuition and apprenticeship benefits so that veterans have access to more opportunities to further their careers.

If you would like additional information on any of the above items, please visit the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs website at www.mn.gov/mdva/.

As you go about your Veterans Day weekend, I hope that you will also pause, say a prayer, and take time to express your gratitude for the brave men and women who have served to protect the wonderful and unique country we are blessed to call home. God bless all of our veterans!