Iraq war veteran and Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth struggled to hold back tears during a wreath-laying ceremony in Chicago to honor American service members who have died in combat. Duckworth said, “There is not a day when I don’t get up and say a prayer of thanks for my life and for theirs.”
The Democratic congresswoman lost both legs and partial use of an arm when a rocket-propelled grenade hit the Black Hawk helicopter she was piloting in Iraq in 2004.
In other events, Governor Pat Quinn opened an exhibit of hand-drawn portraits of Illinois service members who have died.