Each year on November 11 Americans celebrate Veterans Day — honoring those who separated themselves from other citizens of our Country by stepping forward to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Most of us took aptitude tests and physicals at a Military Entrance Processing Station, and then stood in a room with other new recruits with the Flag of our Nation proudly displayed while raising our right hand and taking an oath: “I, Todd Jacobus, solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniformed Code of Military Justice. So help me God.” This is the biggest decision that most of us had made up to that point in our lives. I know very few who have regretted that decision. On the contrary, I know many who point to the decision to serve as one of their best life decisions.

Our journeys from the beginning of our military careers — when we took our oath — varied, as each of us attended initial entry training that prepared us for the branch of the Armed Forces in which we chose, or were selected in the case of our draftees, to serve – Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Space Force. We completed our training and stood on a parade field proudly wearing our new title of Soldier, Sailor, Marine, Airman, Coast Guardsman, or Guardian. What an incredible feeling!

After training our service members are assigned to one of nearly 700 installations located in more than 70 countries around the world. No two service members follow the same career path; each of us has our own military journey. We appreciate you allowing us to share stories from that journey; please encourage us to do so.

Regardless of when or where our Veterans served we owe them our gratitude, as each Veteran wrote a blank check payable to the United States of America — for an amount up to and including their life. Most of us know very good men and women for whom our Nation regrettably cashed that check. Those Americans are no longer with us, but they live on through their families, friends, comrades, and their stories will be shared for generations. We are better because they lived, and in many ways this Nation is great because of their sacrifice.

In return for service our Nation promises to be there for our Veterans when, and if, they need us. The Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs has the privilege of helping our federal and state government deliver on that promise. We work with our 99 County Veterans Service Offices in an effort to connect Veterans with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Health Administration and Benefits Administration. You will see us represented at county fairs, community celebrations, sporting events, and anywhere else people gather so that we can distribute information and inform Veterans and their loved ones of the benefits they earned through service.

We are fortunate to have the Iowa Veterans Home located right here in Marshalltown. Marshall County is the geographic center of our Iowa. And since Amos Fox of Livermore, Humboldt County, Iowa, walked through the gates of the newly constructed Iowa Soldiers Home on Dec. 1, 1887, our staff has been privileged to serve Iowa Veterans of every conflict since that time. Iowa’s Home for Veterans has been the last residence of 19,406 Iowa Veterans and their spouses – 3,1498 of whom are buried at the IVH Cemetery. Generations of staff at the IVH have had the privilege of caring for those who, during the prime of their lives, were at the tip of our Nation’s spear in some dangerous and austere environments around our world – doing the heavy lifting our Nation asked them to do.

We have the privilege of providing care for our Nation’s heroes – many of whom earned medals of valor while in service to our Nation. Among our residents are two Silver Star recipients. George “Sam” Buck, is a native of Lineville, Wayne County, Iowa. After graduating from Iowa State University and being commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, Sam was deployed to Korea as a Forward Observer, and was awarded the Silver Star following hand to hand combat while defending Combat Outpost Harry 60 miles Northeast of Seoul.

James “Jim” Ross, a native of Waterloo, Black Hawk County, Iowa, was awarded the Silver Star for actions as a Navy Corpsman assigned to a Marine Platoon in combat on Dec. 16, 1965. When his platoon was ambushed and 11 Marines wounded, Jim responded to a call for help by crawling 30 meters with utter disregard for his own safety through a relentless hail of enemy fire to aid one of the wounded Marines and remained in the kill zone for nearly 15 minutes providing mouth to mouth resuscitation. IVH is a home for heroes.

Iowa veterans and their spouses in need of long-term care should look no further than IVH. The Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services rate IVH as a 5-Star facility, and since 2021, IVH has had four consecutive deficiency-free inspections from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Central Office and the Iowa Department of Inspection, Appeals and Licensing. These achievements are the direct result of outstanding professionals and great teamwork across this 150-acre campus hosting Iowa’s largest long-term care facility. The reason I recommend IVH to those considering their long-term care options is not due to ratings or inspection results; I recommend IVH because of the quality of life enjoyed by our residents, staff members who are the epitome of professionalism throughout our facility, and because of the vast activities organized by staff and supported by volunteer organizations, and the presence of so many veteran service organizations and community organizations on our campus.

IVH is a blessing bestowed on Iowa Veterans, and we are proud to carry on this 136-year tradition of excellence.

“Iowa forgets not the defenders of the Union.”

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Todd Jacobus is the commandant of the

Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs.