SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Doris Turner (D-Springfield) encourages people to show support, respect and admiration to our nation’s heroes by writing them friendly letters ahead of Veterans Day.

“We are able to live free in this great country of ours because of the courage and sacrifice our nation’s veterans displayed,” Turner said. “So many veterans suffer the consequences of their service in silence, it is imperative that we show them that they are not alone.”

In order to help combat the rising levels of isolation, the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs launched Operation Rising Spirit last year. Operation Rising Spirit enlists communities to write letters to residents of the four Illinois veterans’ homes located in Anna, LaSalle, Manteno, and Quincy.

To send a message to a veteran or a veterans’ home, visit Send-a-note. Locations for each of the veterans’ homes in Illinois can be found here, where letters can also be mailed.