Sioux City, Iowa — Veterans Day Ceremonies across the state yesterday (Monday) honored the men and women who served the country. Andrew Nelson, the chaplain of the 185th Air National Guard Unit in Sioux City was the master of ceremonies at an event at the Woodbury County Courthouse.
Woodbury County Deputy Sheriff Zane Chwirka, a veteran of 21 years in the military was the keynote speaker. He told the story of meeting a veteran in a wheelchair at a Vikings game in Minnesota, and how he told the veteran he didn’t need to shake his hand for his service. But the veteran said that wasn’t the case.
Chwirka says the injured veteran said he had considered taking his own life after being wounded.
Chwirka’s service included seven-and-a-half years in the Army National Guard, and then he switched to the Air Guard in Sioux City and retired as a Master Sergeant in 2022.
