{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.peters.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/photos-on-veterans-day-senator-peters-attends-rochester-high-school-veterans-wall-of-honor-unveiling-ceremony", "PHOTOS: On Veterans Day, Senator Peters Attends Rochester High School Veterans \u201cWall of Honor\u201d Unveiling Ceremony", "2025-11-11", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "MI", "Gary C. Peters", "P000595", "www.peters.senate.gov", "garypeters", "https://www.peters.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "ROCHESTER HILLS, MI \u2014 This Veterans Day, U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) attended an unveiling ceremony at Rochester High School (RHS) for its new Veterans \u201cWall of Honor,\u201d which recognizes RHS alumni and faculty who have served in the United States Armed Forces. The display was created by Audrey Henckel, a senior student at RHS, who undertook the project to accomplish the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest achievement within the Girl Scouts of America. Peters, an Eagle Scout and an RHS alumni, is featured on the Wall of Honor to recognize his service in the U.S. Navy Reserve. Peters\u2019 father, Herb Peters, is also recognized for his service as a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army in France during World War II, following the invasion of Normandy. Peters\u2019 father also graduated from RHS and was a teacher at Rochester Community Schools for more than 30 years.\n\n\u201cEvery name on this wall tells the story of someone who bravely answered the call to protect our democracy and our American way of life,\u201d said Senator Peters. \u201cIt is an honor for me to be recognized alongside my father and the countless courageous men and women who have helped defend our nation. This new Wall of Honor will ensure that future generations of Rochester High School students remember the heroic service and sacrifices made by members of their own community.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe brave women and men of our military protect the freedoms that many of us presume without question,\u201d said Nicholas Russo, Rochester Community Schools Superintendent. \u201cIt is out of great respect that we recognize their service to our community and our country.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt is an honor to pay tribute to the heroes who have served, and continue to serve, our country. Each year, our students, staff and families come together to honor our veterans and show appreciation for their sacrifices,\u201d said Josh Wrinkle, Principal of Rochester High School. \u201cI am so proud of how our community continues to find new ways to make our observances even better.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Wall of Honor at Rochester High School recognizes our community\u2019s veterans, past and present. It represents an appreciation for the impact our RHS graduates and staff have had throughout history in protecting our liberties,\u201d said Joshua Beukema, Assistant Principal of Rochester High School and U.S. Army National Guard Veteran. \u201cAs a veteran having served in the Michigan Army National Guard, this sign of gratitude means a great deal.\u201d\n\nTo download photos from the event, click here.\n\nDuring his service in the U.S. Navy Reserve, Peters earned a Seabee Combat Warfare Specialist designation and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Commander. After the September 11th terrorist attacks on our country, Peters volunteered again for drilling status and served overseas as part of his Reserve duty. He later earned a diploma from the College of Naval Command and Staff, U.S. Naval War College.\n\nIn the Senate, Peters has remained committed to supporting our nation\u2019s servicemembers and veterans. In 2021, Peters was inducted into the Michigan Military and Veterans Hall of Honor for his efforts to support our nation\u2019s veterans and military. In 2017, Peters was recognized as Legislator of the Year by the Vietnam Veterans of America for authoring the bipartisan Fairness for Veterans Act, which was signed into law as part of the national defense bill. The legislation requires veteran discharge review boards to give liberal consideration to petitions for honorable discharge status if the servicemember has been diagnosed with PTSD, TBI, or other related conditions connected to their military service. In 2022, Peters helped enact the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act \u2013 which delivered VA health care and benefits to all generations of toxic-exposed veterans and their survivors for the first time in our nation\u2019s history.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.peters.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/photos-on-veterans-day-senator-peters-attends-rochester-high-school-veterans-wall-of-honor-unveiling-ceremony"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8311709389090538, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}