DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate and Hy-Vee are renewing their annual Veterans Day partnership to pay tribute to Iowans who served our nation. Hy-Vee stores celebrate Veterans Day each year by offering a free breakfast to all veterans and active-duty military members as a way of thanking them for their service. They will also distribute the Secretary of State’s “Honor a Veteran” postcards during the breakfast and throughout Veterans Day, encouraging customers to pay tribute to a friend or loved one. Secretary Pate says “The brave men and women who served our country in uniform deserve our gratitude and this is one way to say thank you. So many brave Iowans stepped up and risked their lives to defend our freedoms. I’m proud to partner with Hy-Vee each year to honor our veterans.”

Honor A Veteran postcards and lapel pins

Approximately 30,000 “Honor a Veteran” postcards have been distributed to Hy-Vee stores across Iowa for use on Veterans Day, Monday, November 11th. Tina Potthoff, senior vice-president at Hy-Vee, says “Together with our customers we have the opportunity this Veterans Day to show our support to those who have served us. This program is one more way we can thank our veterans for serving our country and show our appreciation to these brave men and women.”

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.