MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers on Nov 8th, in recognition of Veterans Day on Nov. 11, 2024, celebrated Wisconsin’s 300,000 veterans and their families and honored the holiday with a video message thanking them for their service and sacrifice and reaffirming his commitment to supporting veterans and their loved ones. Gov. Evers also proclaimed Nov. 5-11, 2024, as Veteran Recognition Week and Nov. 11, 2024, as Veterans Day in Wisconsin. A copy of the governor’s Veteran Recognition Week and Veterans Day proclamation is available here.

Supporting Wisconsin’s veterans has been a top priority for the governor and the Evers Administration. Earlier this year, Gov. Evers and Wisconsin Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA) Secretary James Bond announced Veteran Mental Health Community-Based Organization Grant funding for nine nonprofit organizations to promote positive mental health through activities, programs, and services that enhance the emotional, psychological, and social well-being of Wisconsin’s veterans. 

The governor additionally signed a series of bills in 2024 to support veterans, including allowing spouses of veterans to become members of the state’s veterans’ homes even if their spouse is not a veteran, directing funding to cover some eligible burial expenses for veterans, ensuring Hmong veterans can have veteran status on their driver’s license or ID, ensuring Wisconsin has qualified individuals filling positions in veterans service offices and veterans homes, and adding the Mount Horeb Veterans Memorial to state highway maps.

The Evers Administration is committed to ensuring Wisconsin veterans have the tools and resources needed to thrive in their civilian lives. To learn more about resources and services available to veterans and their families in Wisconsin, visit DVA’s website.

The governor’s Veteran’s Day video message is available here, and a transcript of the video message is available below.

Hey there, folks. Governor Tony Evers here.  

This Veterans Day—and every day—we’re proud to honor the over 300,000 veterans who call our state home.

Veterans have given so much in service to our country, and, as a state, I believe it’s our duty to give back.

Because just as our veterans have upheld and defended the freedoms and values we hold dear, we must also uphold our commitment to ensuring that both they and their families have the full range of support and services they need to thrive.

And I can think of no better day than today to reaffirm ourselves to that commitment.

My administration has been proud to champion efforts to support our veterans and their families.

We launched the Blue Ribbon Commission on Veteran Opportunity to help ensure that our veterans have every opportunity to succeed in their civilian life because we know our veterans often face unique hurdles.

And based on the work of that commission, we invested $10 million towards veteran services statewide.

This included investments to support veterans’ mental health initiatives, a new rental assistance program for homeless veterans, and additional resources for the Department of Veteran Affairs’ Veterans Outreach and Recovery Program and the Hire Heroes Program at the Department of Workforce Development. 

Making sure veterans have access to job training and education to find family-supporting jobs has to be a top priority, and I am proud that Wisconsin’s workforce development services rank fourth in the country for successfully helping veterans find employment.

My administration is committed to continuing our work to support our veterans and their families, whether through supporting employment initiatives and mental health services or expanding the Veterans and Surviving Spouses Property Tax Credit to provide critical tax relief to veterans and their families.  

It’s the least we can do to show our appreciation for their selfless service and immense sacrifices.

So, on behalf of our entire state, thank you for your service, and happy Veterans Day, Wisconsin.