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Throughout our state’s history, Nebraskans have made it a priority to honor our veterans. In fact, our appreciation is built into the very foundation of our State Capitol building. One hundred years ago, in 1922, a military parade escorted veterans to the site of today’s State Capitol in Lincoln to celebrate the laying of the building’s cornerstone. The cornerstone paid tribute to Nebraska’s veterans. It bears the inscription: “Dedicated to the Memory of Those Who Fell in the Service of their Country.” The ceremony took place at 11:00 a.m. on the 11th day of the 11th month of the year to mark the exact time of the ceasefire that officially ended World War I in 1918. Our ancestors rightly recognized that a willingness to serve is the cornerstone of a free Republic. America’s greatness endures because of selfless citizens who willingly take responsibility to serve their families, communities, and nation. Our women and men who’ve put on the uniform deserve our gratitude year-round, and especially on Veterans Day. This includes our surviving veterans, like Army veteran Erin Colson, who continues to serve others as a veteran service officer at the Nebraska Department of Veterans’ Affairs (NDVA). This year, Erin helped convene the State’s inaugural Women Veterans Symposium to gather and honor Nebraska’s female veterans. It also includes those who gave their lives serving our country, like fallen Marine Corporal Daegan Page. A member of the Omaha community, Daegan was just 23 years old when he was killed last year while serving his country during the botched withdrawal from Afghanistan.
