Veterans from around Minnesota gathered at the State Capitol on Wednesday for the annual Veterans Day on the Hill.
"Minnesotans are committed to engaging our elected officials with one voice," said Trent Dilks with the Disabled American Veterans of Minnesota. "All eight federally charted veterans organizations based in Minnesota will be present to make sure that the promises made to men and women who have served out our nation are kept."
Among those attending was 98-year old Luigi Picariello who served as a Marine during World War II in the South Pacific. His memories of those battles are still fresh and painful.
"We left so many boys behind over there we couldn't take home with us" he said tearfully.
Jim Meyer fought in Vietnam and shared what it was like when, at 18-years old, he experienced an explosion that he thought would kill him.
"It blew two of us out of our foxhole," Meyer says.
Veterans are facing a number of challenges these days including PTSD, which can lead to suicide and homelessness, two key issues that they are working to fix.
Governor Tim Walz spoke to the crowd, and shared news of progress being made to end veteran homelessness.
"Minnesota is on track to be the the fourth state in the nation to end homelessness," Walz said.
Another key issue for veterans is suicide.
"If we had more mental health places for them to go it would be a life saver," said Randy Olson who drove from Winnebago, Minnesota to take part in the event.
Key issues on the agenda include supporting a Veteran-specific Omnibus Bill, which would increase property tax relief for disabled vets and surviving spouses of those that are deceased, and expanding outdoor program benefits.