by Cynthia Germain
Veterans Day gives us a chance to thank the people we know who served. It might be the neighbor you wave to on your morning walk, the friend you meet for coffee, or someone in your own family. Here in Door County, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates that 1,921 veterans call our county home (2020–2024 survey). That’s a lot of neighbors with stories worth hearing.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimated that about 18 million veterans lived in the United States in 2024, including about 2.1 million women. About 5.1 million served during the Vietnam era and 9 million during the Gulf War era. This Wednesday, we celebrate everyone who served, in wartime and in peacetime, and recognize the families who shared in that service.
Military service can shape what a person and their family need years later. An old injury may make everyday tasks harder, or a family member may take on more of the caregiving over time. That’s why the federal government and Wisconsin have programs specifically for veterans. A little help at home or a break for a caregiver can make it easier for someone to stay in the home and community they love.
Through the federal VA, eligible veterans can ask about help at home, respite for family caregivers, or care from an approved community provider when getting to a VA appointment is difficult. Aid and Attendance may increase the monthly VA pension for qualifying veterans and surviving spouses who need help with everyday activities.
Wisconsin offers support of its own, including a property tax credit for qualifying veterans and surviving spouses, grants for certain health care or basic living expenses during financial hardship, and skilled nursing care at Wisconsin Veterans Homes for those who qualify.
If you’re with a veteran this week, take a moment to thank them for their service. We can carry that gratitude beyond Veterans Day by supporting the programs that help veterans and their families get the care and assistance they’ve earned. If they feel like sharing, you might ask what they remember most about their time in service. And if the conversation turns to how things are going these days, you could ask, “Would you like me to help you see what’s available?” If you’re the veteran, it’s just as reasonable to ask someone you trust to look into it with you.
The Door County Veterans Service Office in Sturgeon Bay helps veterans and their families explore and apply for federal and Wisconsin benefits. You can reach them at 920-746-2225.
To all our Door County veterans, thank you for your service and for all the ways you continue to be part of this community. I hope you have a wonderful Veterans Day.
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