SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) - Remembering our veterans during the holidays. 

The Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs presented the Gold Star Christmas Tree on Monday at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum, dedicated to Illinois veterans who lost their lives in combat. 

Gold Star families decorated the tree with personalized ornaments for each hero. 

IDVA Director Terry Prince emphasized that honoring and loving veterans is something that you can do in your everyday life. 

"Reach out to a veteran in your life, reach out to a veteran's family. Doesn't have to be a Gold Star family; any veteran, check on them. How are they doing? Are they getting the benefits they need? Are they doing okay? That's really [when] communities come together, that's when the true love for veterans is shown. When they find a veteran in their life and say, 'How's it going?'" Prince said. 

The tree is available for public viewing through the end of the year. 

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