#VeteranOfTheDay Army Veteran Mark DeAndrea

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Mark DeAndrea.

Mark enlisted in the Army in 1978, and transferred to the Washington National Guard in 1984.

He married his wife, Antionette, in 1999, and she joined the Guard in 2003 as a contractor.

In 2008, Mark deployed to Iraq with the 81^st Brigade. There he earned his second Meritorious Service Medal.

When off duty, he can be seen dressed as Captain America for his local small town parade.

Mark is set to retired in July after 38 years of service. “There are many who have come up behind me that will carry on in service, first to each other, and then this great nation,” Mark said.

Thank you for your service, Mark!

Nominate a Veteran for #VeteranOfTheDay

Do you want to light up the face of a special Veteran? Have you been wondering how to tell your Veteran they are special to you? You’re in luck! VA’s #VeteranOfTheDay social media feature is an opportunity to highlight your Veteran and his/her service..

It’s easy to nominate a Veteran. All it takes is an email to newmedia@va.gov with as much of the information as you can put together with some good photos. Visit our blog post about nominating for how to create the best submission.