'Real life heroes': Milwaukee VA Medical Center honors veterans during ceremony Thursday
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Duane Honeycutt's eyes welled with tears as he sat inside of the Milwaukee VA Medical Center's chapel on Thursday morning.
The sound of Taps performed live by the American Legion Band filled the air and on dark-brown pews sat local veterans.
Dozens had gathered as part of the VA's early Veterans Day ceremony, honoring and remembering those who have served.
"It gives us a chance to not only interact with each other but to recognize the sacrifice and service of veterans of all backgrounds, of all different service branches, to our nation to make it what it is today," Honeycutt said.
Honeycutt, who is now the Milwaukee VA Regional Office's executive director, proudly served for four years on active duty in the infantry.
"I served in the Army," Honeycutt said. "It's been an honor and it still is. Those shared experiences never leave you."
#VeteransDay2022 is tomorrow but dozens gathered today at @milwaukeeva for a ceremony honoring and remembering those who have served. Hear from veterans about what this day means to them and also from officials who are spreading awareness about the recently signed PACT Act @CBS58pic.twitter.com/CoPlJPjfZr
— Ellie Nakamoto-White (@ellienw_news) November 10, 2022
Guest speaker Etta O., a student at Nathan Hale High School in West Allis, was chosen to read an essay she had written about the value of veterans' sacrifices to the country.
"Without the work of veterans, there would be no USA as there is today. Veterans are real life heroes," she said.
Currently, the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center in Milwaukee and its four community-based outpatient clinics around the area care for about 64,000 veterans.
This Veterans Day, officials are attempting to spread awareness about the PACT Act which was recently signed into law in August.
The PACT Act "is a new law that expands VA health care and benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances. This law helps provide generations of Veterans -- and their survivors -- with the care and benefits they've earned and deserved," a news release said.
Officials noted that this law expands health care eligibility to groups who may have not been eligible before.
"[It] requires VA to phase in hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care for any illness to three new categories of Veterans," the news release said.
The first category is veterans who have participated in toxic exposure risk activities while "serving on active duty, active duty for training. or inactive duty training."
The second is veterans assigned to duty stations (airspace above included) either on or after Aug. 2, 1990, in Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, or United Arab Emirates. Also, on or after Sept. 11, 2001, in Afghanistan, Djibouti, Egypt, Jodan, Lebanon, Syria, Uzbekistan or Yemen.
The third is those deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Freedom's Sentinel, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn, Operation Inherent Resolve, and the Resolute Support Mission.
More details on who else is eligible can be found here.
James McLain, the acting director for the medical center and who served in the Army for 20 years, said this is "critically important."
"For veterans who may have been exposed to toxins during their deployment or during their time in service, to become engaged and let us take care of them," McLain said.
Officials said it's important to recognize veterans not only on their official day, but regularly, as their services will never be forgotten.