Veterans Day is a time to reflect on the sacrifices made by the men and women who have worn our nation’s uniform. It is also an opportunity to consider what service means, not just to those who have served, but to the generations that follow.
As a member of Gen Z, an Army veteran, and a representative-elect, I recognize that I may bring a different perspective to the table in Madison. My generation has grown up in a rapidly changing world, but I believe some principles should never change: patriotism, personal responsibility, individual liberty, and a commitment to something greater than ourselves.
My time in the United States Army shaped the way I view leadership and public service. Military service teaches you that leadership isn’t about recognition or titles. It’s about accountability, putting others before yourself, and understanding that your decisions have consequences. Those lessons don’t end when you take off the uniform.
I believe preserving conservative values is especially important as a new generation begins taking on greater responsibility in our communities and government. Freedom, limited government, fiscal responsibility, and respect for the institutions that protect our country are not outdated ideas. They are principles worth defending and passing on.
As I prepare to serve in the Wisconsin State Assembly, I recognize the opportunity and responsibility I have to be a voice for the next generation. I want to bring the lessons I’ve learned through military service and my experience in the manufacturing industry to the Capitol. Wisconsin needs leaders who understand the importance of hard work, strong communities, and creating opportunities for the next generation. I hope to demonstrate that younger Americans can carry forward the principles and values that have guided our country for generations.
Our country was founded by individuals who believed in something bigger than themselves. The men and women who fought in the Revolutionary War risked and sacrificed their lives so that future generations could live in a free and independent nation. We have inherited the freedoms they fought and died for, and we have a responsibility to protect those freedoms and ensure the values upon which our country was founded are never lost.
This Veterans Day, I am grateful to every veteran who answered the call to serve. Their example reminds us that patriotism is more than a feeling. It is a commitment, and one that every generation must carry forward.
