To all of those who receive our updates, advocate for veterans and their families, and work to make Wisconsin a welcoming place for veterans, I thank you.
We are stronger together, and WDVA could not achieve its goals without our amazing partners all across the state. As Secretary, I’ve traveled to all 72 counties and 11 tribal nations to meet with advocates on the ground, as you can see in my travel map here.
As 2024 comes to a close, I want to highlight some of the accomplishments we achieved, thanks in large part to the individuals and organizations who share our mission to serve veterans and their families.
Our Veteran Outreach and Recovery Program reached record numbers of veterans, providing critical support for housing, employment, mental health, and substance use recovery. At our skilled nursing homes in Chippewa Falls, King, and Union Grove, we made important strides in improving care, including a quality rating upgrade for Union Grove and the addition of new leadership. Our cemeteries honored nearly 1,700 veterans to eternal rest. Additionally, updates to legislative criteria mean we can now extend our services to even more veterans.
One of the year’s highlights was the approval of our plans to move forward with a new Wisconsin Veterans Museum on the Capitol Square in Madison, ensuring veterans' stories are preserved and shared for future generations.
As we move into 2025, I look forward to building on this progress and continuing to make a meaningful impact together. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to veterans, and I wish you a joyful holiday season and a prosperous New Year.
Yours in Service,
James Bond, Secretary
Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs
*Pictured: Rhonda Kozik, Executive Director of Moses Hall at the Veterans Home at King, Secretary Bond, and King Commandant Tammy Servatius.
