JEFFERSON CITY, MISSOURI -- Lt. Governor Peter Kinder Wednesday recognized the sacrifice and valor of Missouri’s veterans and encouraged all Missourians to pay tribute on Memorial Day.
"Our nation is built on a foundation of liberty and freedom,” Lt. Governor Kinder said. “The men and women who have served our nation proudly have defended those principals for over 230 years. We owe much to these brave soldiers who have protected our way of life at home and abroad.”
Missouri is estimated to have over 500,000 veterans.
In 2007, Lt. Governor Kinder championed the creation of the Missouri Veteran Stories Project. The program was created to archive the stories of Missouri’s veteran population as told by the veterans themselves. The stories are then made accessible online at, www.missouriveteranstories.com and on a video kiosk in the Missouri Capitol museum. To date, the program has archived nearly 1,500 veteran stories describing conflict in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and the Gulf War, as well as recent stories from Afghanistan and Iraq.
Lt. Governor Kinder is urging Missourians to watch some of these heroic stories over the Memorial Day weekend.
“Each of these stories are gripping and awe inspiring,” Lt. Governor Kinder said. “These short videos are a perfect way to remember the sacrifices made for our freedoms.
Visit the Missouri Veteran Stories website at, www.missouriveteranstories.com.