Illinois Governor designates June 25 as Indian-American Veterans Appreciation Day

The Indo-American Veterans Organization spearheaded the initiative.

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker. / Illinois Policy

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker on June.12 signed a proclamation designating June.25 as Indian-American (India) Veterans Appreciation Day. The designation aims to recognize and honor the service of veterans from the Indian-American community, acknowledging their contributions across various sectors in the country.

Pritzker urged all Illinoisans to acknowledge the contributions Indian-Americans have made, not only in various commercial sectors and industries of American society but also in the United States Armed Forces, as stated in the proclamation.

“We also proudly acknowledge and recognize the contributions of our Indian-American (India) members in our great Armed Forces,” the proclamation added.

The proclamation introduced by Illinois Governor. / Facebook/Indo-American Veterans Organization

Consul General of India in Chicago Somnath Ghosh penned a letter of appreciation to Pritzker for recognizing Indian American veterans.

“We deeply appreciate your Proclamation designating June 25, 2024 as the Indian American Veteran's Appreciation Day. The Indian diaspora in the United States, with total number nearly five million, has contributed greatly to all areas of human endeavor,” Ghosh said in the letter. “They work hard to achieve excellence in business, trade, various professions, political life, and now, even in US military services.”

The Indo-American Veterans Organization (IAVO.US), which spearheaded the initiative, was founded in 2021 by Chris Aryan. The organization is dedicated to acknowledging the sacrifices made by Indian-American veterans.