VELSHI: Today in our Odds and Ends segment, a salute to our veterans and current troops. First lady Michelle Obama helped serve up steak dinners to servicemen and women at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. Her visit came as a surprise. The first lady's plane made a refueling stop over in Germany as she heads home from her tour in Asia. In New Orleans, school children sat at the feet of veterans today to learn about the sacrifices that they've made for the country. This huge wall with the names of veterans and current troops is another way Americans are marking the day. Steve Rutherford of West Virginia along with his grandson, Alex, painted it to resemble a U.S. flag. In Illinois, people can buy a scratch-off lottery ticket to help the veterans. Governor Pat Quinn unveiled the latest version of the four-year old program this week.</s>GOVERNOR PAT QUINN (D) ILLINOIS: Anyone who purchases this ticket, win or lose, is really helping our men and women who have worn the uniform of our country, our veterans. All the proceeds, all the money that people pay for that ticket goes into a Veterans Assistance trust fund.</s>VELSHI: Each ticket costs two bucks with the top prize around $20,000. And that is it for me. CNN NEWSROOM continues with my good friend, T.J. Holmes.
At the Feet of Veterans; First Lady Honors U.S. Troops