Veterans Day: Honoring Service, Advancing Our Commitment

By Bob Fioretti

This Veterans Day, Illinois leans in, reflecting on sacrifice, reaffirming gratitude, and recommitting to outcomes that tangibly improve the lives of those who served. Our veterans built the foundation we stand on; our responsibility is to deliver for them in the present tense.

On Sunday, November 9, 2025, I attended a special Mass at St. Barnabas Church to honor our veterans. Alumni from Mendel Catholic High School joined me as we recognized the courage, discipline, and quiet leadership our servicemen and women model every day. Moments like this are not ceremonial checkboxes; they’re culture-setting, reminding us who we aspire to be as a state.

On Monday, November 10th, the Chicago Bulls recognized Mr. Carl Lituri, a distinguished World War II veteran. At 99 years young, turning 100 on December 26th, Mr. Lituri is a living case study in resilience and grace. Each year on December 7th at 7:48 a.m., he and fellow veterans place a wreath in Lake Michigan to honor fallen comrades. He resides in Westchester with his daughter, Sandra, his trusted “eyes and ears.” Their bond is a powerful reminder that service doesn’t end with the uniform; it’s sustained by families and communities who stand shoulder to shoulder, day after day.

As I look toward serving Illinois as Attorney General, I’m focused on translating respect into results: faster, simpler access to earned benefits; robust consumer and scam protections targeting those who prey on veterans; coordinated enforcement against fraud in veteran-serving programs; and expanded pathways for mental health, housing stability, and workforce reintegration. The mission is clear: cut red tape, elevate accountability, and deliver real value to those who secured our freedoms.

Veterans Day is a tribute to the fallen and a charge to the living. We honor those who gave everything by ensuring today’s veterans and their families receive the care, recognition, and opportunity they deserve.

To every Illinois veteran: thank you for your service and your example. We see you. We stand with you. And together, we will keep building a state worthy of your sacrifice.