Overdue Honor

Statement

From 1941 to 1945, more than 16 million Americans went to war. In arid deserts, dark jungles, and shattered cities; in the air, on land and sea, and beneath the sea, they took up arms against a perverse and tyrannical ideology.

Most of these young Americans were not professional soldiers. They were farm boys, car mechanics, and coal miners. They were bus drivers, store clerks, and students.

And they won the war.

For their service, many received medals and decorations from the government. Typically a few inches of ribbon or a narrow strip of medal, these honors may seem like small items, but they told of service that was, in many cases, too great for words.

Some who earned medals never received them. For a host of different reasons -- bureaucracy not least among them -- a number of these veterans came home without the recognition they deserved. Time passed. And while many veterans try later in life to get their long overdue honors, they are not all successful.

This was the case for Walter Piasecki, a World War II Army veteran in Kearney, Nebraska.

Walter passed away in 2012, but his son, Roger, hoped to retrieve his dad's medals. He knew it was a way to honor his father's service. It was also part of his family's heritage. Despite his best efforts, Roger was unable to get his dad's medals. Frustrated, he reached out to my office in February.

My diligent staff went to work at once. They contacted the National Personnel Records Center, the federal agency responsible for tracking the service of veterans from all branches of our military. The agency's research team then verified Walter's service to determine which honors he was owed.

I am proud to report that Roger now has his father's World War II Victory Medal and Honorable Service lapel button. At the moment, my office is also in the process of helping Roger obtain his father's service records.

This is just one example of the many kinds of constituent service work my office performs on behalf of Nebraska families. Through mobile office hours, my staff assists Nebraskans in navigating federal agencies and answers questions about legislation. They provide help in grant applications and give guidance on veterans issues and resources for military families. They also shepherd applicants for nominations to attend our nation's military academies.

Every constituent case is important; there is something that stands out about ensuring the proper honors for our veterans.

Valor does not dim with the passage of time. Families do not forget the courage of their loved ones.

Neither should we.

The past is important. The Greatest Generation made great sacrifices that seem almost mythical to us today. Yet greatness is available to us, too. It requires a clear sense of purpose and a willingness to sacrifice for that purpose. It requires courage. It requires love. But it is absolutely within our reach.

Thank you for your participation in our democratic process. I look forward to visiting with you again next week.

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