Chicago unveiled a monument dedicated to LGBTQ veterans on Memorial Day

American Veterans for Equal Rights (AVER) officially unveiled Chicago‘s first memorial to LGBTQ veterans this Memorial Day, highlighting the sacrifices of troops who often served in silence.

The granite monument is one of just a handful in the nation honoring LGBTQ servicemembers and sits in front of an LGBTQ-friendly senior living complex, Windy City Times reports.

“Every veteran should be remembered and honored for their service,” U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky said at the dedication ceremony, which featured performances by the Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus, Windy City Gay Chorus, and Travis.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel wrote that the monument is “a tribute to the sacrifice of our soldiers” in a message shared at the event.

Members of Chicago’s AVER chapter credited former President Barack Obama will paving the way for the public recognition of LGBTQ veterans by working to lift the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy that banned servicemembers from being openly LGBTQ.

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