(Madison, WI) – On Tuesday, April 22, 2025, the State’s three largest veterans service organizations – American Legion, Disabled American Veterans (DAV), and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) will hold Veterans Day at the Capitol. During the event, veterans and their supporters will present the organizations’ Legislative Priorities to lawmakers. The Legislative Priorities are Eligibility Expansion for the Wisconsin Veterans and Surviving Spouses Property Tax Credit and Funding for the UW MIA Recovery and Identification Project to repatriate Wisconsin missing-in-action service members.
The event will start at 10:00 am with Coffee at the Monona Terrace, followed by Lunch at 11:00 am. The attendees will then proceed at 11:30 am to the State Capitol for a First Floor Rotunda Rally. It will be from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm. Some of the scheduled speakers are Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs’ Secretary James Bond, Assembly Veterans Affairs (VA) Committee Chairman William Penterman and Ranking Member Christine Sinicki, Senate VA Committee Chairman Andre Jacque, and Ranking Member Jodi Habush Sinykin. Attendees will then visit their State Legislators’ Offices to present these Priorities.
“Please join Wisconsin Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs) as we promote legislative concerns for fellow Veterans. On April 22nd stand with us in Madison to advocate for the rights and benefits of those who have served. Together, we can ensure the rights of Wisconsin Veterans are preserved and their service is honored,” stated Commander Jim Johnson Wisconsin American Legion.
“This is an outstanding opportunity for Wisconsin veterans to be seen by their legislators,” said DAV State Commander Greg Palo. “Enacting our priorities means disabled veterans will either be able to keep their homes or to purchase a home, while some Wisconsin MIA families will be given a sense of closure,” he continued.
“As VSOs, we have a duty to stand united and hold our elected officials accountable. Too often, we are used as a backdrop in a campaign. Veterans Day at the Capitol is our moment to change that narrative. It’s our time to speak with one voice and to ensure they hear our voices loud and clear. They need to Honor the Contract—the solemn promise to care of our veterans when they return home.” said VFW State Commander Ron Ramos.
Currently, these long-delayed priorities are provisions in the proposed 2025-2027 State Budget which was submitted to the Joint Committee on Finance (JFC). The American Legion, DAV, and VFW look forward to working with the JFC and the Legislature to see that these priorities will finally be enacted.
About American Legion, DAV, and VFW
The American Legion, DAV and VFW are Congressionally Chartered, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Accredited, nonprofit veterans service organizations who provide services to veterans. Each organization advocates on behalf of the veterans they represent.
