“When veterans return home, we need to show them the dignity that they showed when they signed up,” U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar told an audience attending Ecumen’s Greatest Generation Veterans Day luncheon at the Minnesota History Center Monday.

“There was no waiting in line when they signed up,” the senator said, “And there should never be a waiting line for jobs in the United States of America when they come back.”

Veterans understand that “duty, honor and sacrifice don’t end when the war ends,” she said, “and every generation needs to be reminded of this.”

Sen. Klobuchar, known for her legislation advocating for veterans, spoke to a group of nearly 120 Ecumen supporters who gathered for a special tribute to Greatest Generation, the generation that fought in World War II.  About 30 members of the Greatest Generation were in the audience.

When veterans are on the battlefield together, Sen. Klobuchar said, they understand that they must put all their differences aside for the good of the nation.  “We all could learn from veterans,” she said.

“How do you thank someone who has risked their life for you?” she asked. “We can’t thank them enough and can never truly repay them.”  But through our actions every day, she said, we can show veterans the same commitment they showed us.

Sen. Klobuchar was introduced by her father, Jim Klobuchar, noted Minnesota journalist and blogger for Ecumen and Korean War veteran. He described growing up in an immigrant family on the Iron Range in the Great Depression when his parents worked 15 hours a day for low wages with the primary goal of making sure their children got a good education. “That is the story of how this country became great,” he said. “Now my daughter is a United States Senator.”

Ecumen President and CEO Kathryn Roberts paid tribute to the Greatest Generation “that took us from a bust economy to a boom economy…  from a world terrorized by dictators to a world safe for democracy…from a land of discrimination to a land of opportunity.”

“We can all learn something about honor from this generation,” she said.  “At Ecumen, we have gotten to know them well since most of our residents are members of the Greatest Generation.  We are honored to now serve them, who served us so unselfishly.”