Jim,

Today is not a celebration. It's a remembrance — for the Americans who gave their lives in service to this country, and for the families who carry that loss every single day.

As the daughter of a Navy veteran who served during Vietnam, I grew up understanding what military service asks of a family. My father came home. Too many didn't. The debt we owe them can never be repaid — only honored.

Here in Wisconsin, we are home to generations of Gold Star families, to communities that have sent their sons and daughters to serve, and to veterans who returned carrying the memory of friends who did not. From the cemeteries where flags line the rows this weekend to the empty seats at family tables, today belongs to them.

Take a moment today to visit a local memorial, attend a ceremony in your community, or simply pause to reflect on the names behind this holiday. The greatest tribute we can offer is to live in a way that honors their sacrifice — by caring for one another, by serving the country they served, and by ensuring the families they left behind are never forgotten.

With gratitude,

Sara Rodriguez








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