DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate and Hy-Vee join forces to pay tribute to Iowa's military veterans with the "Honor A Veteran" program. Hy-Vee stores celebrate Veterans Day each year by offering a free breakfast buffet to all veterans and active-duty military members as a way of thanking them for their service. This year, Hy-Vee stores in Iowa will distribute the Secretary of State's "Honor a Veteran" postcards during the breakfast and throughout Veterans Day, encouraging customers to pay tribute to a loved one who served our country.

"This program is a way to recognize the sacrifice of our veterans. They risked their lives to protect our freedoms and our right to vote. We cannot say 'thank you' enough to them for their service to our state and our country," Secretary Pate said. "I am thrilled to partner with Hy-Vee to help distribute 100,000 Honor a Veteran postcards throughout the state on Veterans Day, and I look forward to reading all the tributes."

The veterans receiving the postcards at Hy-Vee can write a tribute to a fellow soldier, submit their own information to receive recognition from the State of Iowa, or give the card to a loved one to post an acknowledgement. The postcards will be returned to the Iowa Secretary of State's Office and tributes will be posted online at HonorAVet.net and Facebook.com/HonoraVeteran.

The person making the tribute and the veteran being honored, if they are still with us, will both receive an 'Honor a Veteran with Your Vote' lapel pin in the mail. The lapel pins are red, white and blue, and in the shape of the state of Iowa. Secretary Pate encourages recipients of the lapel pins to wear them on Election Day as a tribute to the sacrifice veterans made to provide Americans with the right to choose our elected leaders and form of government.

Photos of the Honor a Veteran cards are available here:
Honor A Veteran 1
Honor A Veteran 2

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