Honoring our Veterans

Straight Talk with Sam

As World War II raged on, William Taul of Northwest Missouri entered the United States Army and honorably defended our country. His service, like so many others, helped ensure that our country, and the world, remained free.

One of the ways we honor our veterans is with service medals and awards. They certainly didn't do it for the recognition, but these service medals are still a great honor for our veterans and can also be incredibly meaningful to a veteran's family after they have passed away. In some cases though, they never received them or no longer have them.

Getting them later on can be difficult for many veterans and their families because the records no longer exist. Like many of our veterans from that time, Mr. Taul's military records were destroyed in a fire at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis in 1973. That's where my office can help.

I was proud to recover several service medals that Mr. Taul had earned. As a result of his service in World War II, he was eligible to receive the Bronze Star Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the Combat Infantry Badge 1st Award, and the Honorable Service Lapel Button WWII.

While Mr. Taul passed away several years ago, I was able to present those medals and awards to his family this week, including his grandson who also served in the military. It was an incredibly meaningful time remembering Mr. Taul's life and his service.

If a veteran in your family didn't receive the medals they earned, please reach out to my team. We're happy to help. It's an incredible honor to do so. Likewise, if you or a veteran you know is struggling with accessing benefits they deserve, we'd also be glad to assist. All you need to do is reach out to my office at 816-792-3976 and we'll get to work. It's the least we can do to honor those who have given so much for our country.

Sincerely,

Sam Graves