Today, I salute 22-year Army Veteran, Sergeant Major Mary Aurtrey. Recently it was announced that Mary will be named Indiana’s first “Community Hero” as part of a national program celebrating America’s 250th birthday. Her distinguished military service spanned the Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm. A member of the Indiana Military Veterans Hall of Fame and an Indiana Torchbearer Award recipient, Aurtrey’s legacy is also preserved in the Library of Congress. Following her retirement from uniform, she dedicated decades to supporting local Veterans through organizations like AMVETS and Helping Veterans and Families of Indiana.