Illinois is a leader in serving veterans

On Monday, we celebrated Memorial Day all across our country.

As the flags flew at half staff, we commemorated this day to keep the veterans we have lost in our memories and our hearts.

We expressed our deepest gratitude and thanks for their ultimate sacrifice.

On this day, we also remembered our soldiers who now put their lives on the line to fight for our freedoms. The brave men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan have made major sacrifices on our behalf and we've been seeing what a serious toll combat can take on their health.

There is no safe place in these combat zones - only danger, violence and tragedy that most of us can't even imagine.

When they return home, our service members deserve every opportunity to live healthy, stable lives.

Now, it is our turn to fight for them. Here in Illinois, I am very proud to say we are doing everything we can to ensure that when our service members come home, they have access to the benefits they rightfully deserve.

Our G-I Loan for Heroes program helps veterans and active duty personnel secure low-interest mortgages on their homes.

We are making sure they have access to health care through our program Veterans Care. The first of its kind in the nation, the Illinois Warrior Assistance Program screens returning veterans for traumatic brain injuries and provides confidential help for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

The state of Illinois is a national leader when it comes to these kinds of innovative programs and initiatives that help our veterans and their family members.

In the spirit of Memorial Day, as we remember the brave soldiers we have lost, we should recommit ourselves to doing everything we can to honor the veterans, young and old, who are still with us.

Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich

Chicago