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Veterans Day is Monday, and we hope people will take time this weekend heading into the holiday to think about the impact that veterans have had on your life.

According to data from the Freeborn County Veterans Services Office, there were 2,058 veterans in Freeborn County in 2023 and 294,232 across the state of Minnesota — accounting for about 5.14% of the total population.

Of those veterans in Minnesota, 74,186 served during peacetime and 220,046 served during wartime, with the largest share currently living, 94,073, serving in the Vietnam War. Only about 3,500 are World War II veterans, and less than 18,000 were Korean War veterans.

Nearly 48% of Minnesota veterans live in the seven-county metro area.

The share of the country’s population with military experience is declining — and is only expected to continue to decline in the future.

Though the percentage of U.S. adults with military service is going down, the sacrifice these men and women made has not lessened. We must take advantage of opportunities to thank them and recognize them for their service.

Honoring veterans can be as simple as saying thank you when you see someone out and about with a hat or jacket on that shows their military service. It could also mean supporting our veterans organizations.

Remember, the sacrifice they made serving our country often brings long-lasting effects — some of which are felt daily.

We hope you make a concerted effort to thank veterans on Monday and every day.

There are many who need our support and who deserve our thanks.