Hawkeye Reporter

Veterans Day, observed on November 11, has its origins in Armistice Day, which was established as a national holiday in 1938 to honor those who served in World War I and to mark the end of hostilities on November 11, 1918. In 1954, President Eisenhower signed legislation that renamed Armistice Day to Veterans Day, expanding its scope to honor all veterans of all wars.

Ceremonies are held across the United States, with a notable event at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. During this ceremony, a wreath is placed before the tomb at 11 a.m., accompanied by the playing of taps and a parade of colors by veterans’ organizations inside the Memorial Amphitheater.

The holiday encourages Americans to reflect on the service and sacrifices made by military personnel and their families throughout history. "Throughout our nation’s history, military families put their lives on hold while veterans put their lives on the line to preserve freedom and liberty at home and abroad. We owe them a debt of gratitude for their courage and commitment to answer the call to serve in uniform, from the American Revolutionary War to the 21st century," said Iowa's senior U.S. Senator. He also urged Iowans to share stories about family members who have served: "As we prepare to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution and signing of the Declaration of Independence, I encourage Iowans to share stories with younger generations about members of their family who have served our nation in uniform. Their experiences are part of their family history and our nation’s history, and ought to be handed down from one generation to the next."

The senator highlighted his own family's ties to military service and noted that many Iowa veterans—including those in the National Guard and Reserves—share this heritage.

He also discussed efforts to preserve veterans' stories through participation in the Veterans History Project over nearly ten years. The project collects video and audio recordings from veterans; since Congress created it 25 years ago, more than 100,000 stories have been archived by the Library of Congress. "These personal testimonies help ensure current and future generations understand military service and the realities of war. To date, my office has submitted 95 interviews that chronicle first-hand accounts from Iowa veterans’ military service, including wartime experiences," he stated.

On legislative matters affecting veterans' access to health care, he referenced ongoing oversight following passage of the VA MISSION Act in 2018. The act aimed to provide better access for veterans seeking community health care services.

Addressing recent challenges reported by Iowa veterans regarding access standards for community care under VA programs, he said: "That’s why I’m cosponsoring the ACCESS Act to help address frustrations I’ve been hearing from Iowa veterans." The bill would set eligibility requirements such as an average driving time or wait time for primary or specialty care appointments—30 minutes or 20 days for primary care; 60 minutes or 28 days for specialty care—and would expedite screening for mental health treatment programs.

He added support for bipartisan legislation intended to ease transition from military service back into civilian life as a means of suicide prevention among veterans. This measure is named after two individuals who died by suicide within a year after returning home from duty.

"As long as I’m serving Iowans in the U.S. Senate, I’ll do whatever I can to ensure our veterans are neither forsaken nor forgotten," he said.