Scores of veterans and their advocates gathered at

Legislative Hall on Thursday for the inaugural

"We the Veterans Day."  

"We owe a debt to the comparatively few men and women who have chosen to protect and serve our nation, and I think we have been a little remiss in addressing the needs of this community," said State Rep. Jeff Hilovsky (R-Long Neck, Oak Orchard), a US Air Force veteran and the event's lead organizer. "We the Veterans Day is part of a larger effort to get veterans the attention they've earned."  

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there were an estimated 16.2 million veterans in the United States in 2022, representing 6.2% of the adult population. Approximately 70,000 veterans reside in Delaware, or about one out of every 14 residents. An additional 35,000 Delawareans are estimated to be dependents of a veteran.