WDVA vs WDVA Salute to Veterans Challenge
 |
The game on the field wasn’t the only contest being fought at the Salute to Veterans football game between the Wisconsin Badgers and Washington Huskies on November 8th. Leading up to the game, WDVA Secretary James Bond and Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs Director David Puente, Jr. were locked in a friendly challenge for bragging rights and the title of #TheRealWDVA. The goal of this contest was to highlight the many benefits and services available to veterans in both Wisconsin and Washington.
Whosever football team lost agreed to send the winning WDVA team a basket of goods highlighting their state. The Huskies put up a good fight, but the Badgers got the W! Secretary Bond received a fantastic gift basket from our friends at the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs full of Washington state goodies. Because we're so proud of Wisconsin, we sent a box as well.
While we’d love to use this opportunity to claim the #RealWDVA title, we’re going to call it a wash. Both WDVAs work tirelessly on behalf of our state’s veterans and their families. We’re honored to share the acronym, and we look forward to working together again in saluting our veterans in the future.
Pictured above on left: Secretary James Bond receiving Washington's DVA basket as the UW Badgers won the football game. Pictured right: Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs, Director, David Puente, Jr. receiving his gift basket from WDVA and as part of the friendly wager with Secretary Bond is wearing Badger Red.
Air Force Veteran Receives Honorary Game Ball at UW Football Game on November 8th
Air Force veteran and La Crosse resident Tony Ramos, joined by his wife Janice and granddaughter, was the recipient of this year's honorary game ball at the Salute to Veterans Badger Game. They were joined on the field by Secretary Bond.
This year was special because Ramos just hit his one-year milestone since his diagnosis of glioblastoma, an aggressive stage 4 brain cancer. In the last year he, with the assistance of his wife, has had more than 300 doctor appointments and is now part of 25 percent of patients with glioblastoma to reach the one-year mark. He was proud to be able to attend the game with his fellow veterans and make memories with his wife and granddaughter. He also wanted to help raise awareness about Glioblastoma and remember all of the veterans diagnosed with this and other cancers.
WDVA was truly honored to be able to give him this recognition, and Tony and his family were thrilled to see the Badgers win against the Washington Huskies!
Veteran of the Game - Anna Mae Robertson, WWII Veteran
Another special veteran recognition took place during the game. Anna Mae Robertson, a WWII veteran from Milwaukee, was the featured "Veteran of the Game." She served in the only all-women, all-Black, 6888th Army Postal Battalion in England during the war. Given only six months to clear a massive mail backlog, they did it in three. This past April, the entire battalion was honored with the Congressional Gold Medal for their service. Sadly, Anna Mae passed away in May 2025. She was proudly represented by her daughter Dawn Robertson (pictured left) on the field during the football game at Camp Randall Stadium on November 8th.
|
'Salute to Veterans' Tailgate at Camp Randall Memorial Park
Prior to the Badger football game on Saturday, November 8, the annual 'Salute to Veterans' tailgate took place in Camp Randall Memorial Park. Veterans and their guests received complimentary tickets to the game courtesy of the UW Athletic Department, enjoyed a performance by members of the UW Marching Band, and some tasty brats and hotdogs served by volunteers from VFW Post 1318 of Madison.
WDVA would like to express our appreciation to our friends from The V - VFW Post 1318, University Veteran Services, UW-Madison, and the Wisconsin Veterans Museum for making this another successful event!
You can view more pictures from the Salute to Veterans tailgate event here.
|
