Standing in the Great Hall of Flags at the State House last Monday, Gov. Maura Healey opened her Veterans Day Ceremony remarks by stating that “Every day should be Veterans Day.”

Our governor’s comment struck a deep chord with me. Feeling humbled for being included in the invitation-only event, standing in the presence of such distinguished people as Major Gen. Gary W. Keefe of Northampton, Adjutant Gen. of the Massachusetts National Guard, and western Mass. Air Force veteran Marvin Howard, who was presented the Captain Thomas Hudner Jr. Valor Award for his dedication to the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Agawam, I also felt uplifted by the governor’s words and the sense of promise that they carried.

I have had the privilege of serving the residents of Massachusetts for more than 40 years as a corrections professional, and now as sheriff of Hampshire County. I also served as a National Guardsman for six years during the late 1970s and early 1980s.

I can recall when veterans returning from the war in Vietnam were met with disrespect, even open hostility, clear signs that many of our fellow citizens were unable or unwilling at the time to separate their feelings about the political leadership making unpopular decisions and those ordered to carry them out.

I believe we are growing as a nation, expanding our awareness and understanding of the sacrifices veterans make on behalf of us all. The HERO Act, the largest investment in the health and well-being of our veterans in Massachusetts history, signed by the governor in August, represents our widening embrace of veterans, their service and their struggles.

But there is so much still to be done. Suicide continues to be a disturbing trend among our veterans, especially among women and LGBTQ service members. Sexual trauma is another scourge among our veteran population, as are homeless, joblessness and post-traumatic stress disorder.

With the Healey administration’s leadership, the myriad programs services offered by the Executive Office of Veterans Services and the Office of the Veteran Advocate, and the cultural shift toward a more enlightened and compassionate view of veterans, of their contributions and their sacrifices, better solutions are within our grasp.

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Many have sacrificed by becoming service members to give the rest of us the opportunity to live a free and fulfilling life. It is time to give back to our veterans.

That is going to take commitment, from all of us, to rally around our governor and work as if every day is Veterans Day.

Patrick J. Cahillane is sheriff of Hampshire County.