Editor’s Note: Because of the federal holiday and no mail delivery on Tuesday the Independent will not be publishing a printed paper on Tuesday. U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s column is running in the weekend edition ahead of the Veterans Day holiday.

On this and every Veterans Day, our nation honors those who served and the sacrifices they made to defend our nation.

Since the founding of our democracy, each person who has worn the uniform has left their mark on our nation as they defended our freedom.

As we pay tribute to all our veterans today, I am thinking about patriots like U.S. Army Captain Willibald Charles Bianchi of New Ulm, whose remains were identified on August 11 — more than 80 years after he died while serving our country. Captain Bianchi was born in New Ulm, grew up on a poultry farm, and quit high school after his father died in a farming accident. He resumed his schooling at the University of Minnesota Farm School in St. Paul and the South Dakota State University.

When he graduated in 1940, he was immediately commissioned as an Army second lieutenant and the following year he was deployed to the Philippines. In February 1942, he volunteered to help clear a series of Japanese machine gun nests and continued leading the attack even when he was wounded multiple times, earning the Medal of Honor. He was later captured and held as a prisoner of war by the Empire of Japan until 1945, when he died aboard a Japanese Prisoner of War ship. His recovery reflects our nation’s commitment to bring our missing heroes home — no matter how much time has passed.

We can never serve any veteran in quite the same way they served us. Whether they served many decades ago or in our more recent conflicts overseas, our obligation is to always strive to ensure they have the support and care they earned. That is why I have made it a priority to work with colleagues across the aisle to expand access to comprehensive care to those who were exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances during their service. And I will continue fighting to ensure all those who wore our nation’s uniform get the care and services they deserve when they return home.

Today, as a new generation answers the call to serve in an ever-changing world, let us recommit ourselves to supporting them not only during their time in the uniform, but after they no longer wear it — with good jobs, educational opportunities, strong health care, and reverence for their service. To all of our Minnesota veterans, service members, and military families, you represent the best of America.

Thank you for your dedication to our country.

— Amy Klobuchar represents Minnesota in the U.S. Senate