Some things that didn’t make the short list of election-time issues were our current military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, defense funding and veterans affairs. But one veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom has been working to draw attention back to those issues.

Dan Grant serves as Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs. He’s also a Captain with the Illinois National Guard. As a soldier, Grant received two Army Commendation Medals and the Combat Action Badge. On Tuesday, he received the Medal of Honor from the Volunteers of America Illinois.

In honor of Veterans Day Thursday, he joined Eight Forty-Eight to discuss the current state of veterans’ affairs.

On Tuesday, Governor Pat Quinn unveiled the new Veterans Cash Lottery ticket, a scratch-off ticket that benefits Illinois veterans.  For more information, visit Proud to Give.