Commemorative Speech

Ladies and gentlemen,

Welcome to today’s ceremony and thank you for attending. I’m honored to be speaking with you on such an important occasion. We’re here today to honor our service members and to remember their sacrifices they have made and the courage it takes to defend honor, duty, and country. We all have someone we know who has served … Whether it’s a father, a mother, brother, sister, grandparent, aunt, uncle, or friend. My father and father-in-law have served. My niece and nephew are currently serving. Our veterans are our family. A hero is defined as one who is admired for his or her achievements and qualities, one that shows great courage. So we are here today to honor our heroes, to remember their achievements, their courage and

History has remembered him for his valor and his dedication to his country. And of course we can’t forget that today, for many, service means multiple tours to Iraq and Afghanistan, on active duty or as a reservist and guard members who sacrifice twice when they give up their civilian jobs in order to serve our country… to defend democracy. For many veterans, our nation was important enough to endure long separations from their families, miss the births of their children, freeze in sub-zero temperatures, bake in the burning deserts, lose limbs, and far too often, lose their lives. We celebrate this day … we honor veterans today … because we know that without them, there would be no “land of the free” … We in Congress have your back and acknowledge your pledge, commitment, and service. We must give them the benefits to which they were promised – and we promised to protect them and above all, respect them. Anybody who has raised their hand and promised everything including potentially their life to protect are worthy of respect. The writer Michel de Montaigne once said, “Valor is stability, not of legs and arms, but of courage and the soul.” Today, people throughout the country will gather together to remember, to honor, and to pay gratitude to those who

So tomorrow … we must continue to honor them. Our veterans protect American values … They protect and defend the constitution. They have given us the chance to live in freedom today and an opportunity to look forward to tomorrow. They have given us every day … and they have protected every freedom. Our debt to these heroes can never be re-paid but our gratitude and respect must last forever. We must honor them every day, in every way that we can. Veterans don’t ask for much. They do not wish to be put in a “special class,” they do not claim the title of hero for themselves. But these veterans are our nation’s heroes and they simply want a shot at the American dream that they fought so hard to defend. I would ask you to take the time to honor service members, past and present, in at least one of a dozen ways. You can show your support to these great men and women by hiring a veteran in your workplace, visiting a VA hospital or donating to a veterans program. If you are a veteran, please share your story with others. Let everyone know what you’ve done so they can see the many faces of military service. If you are not a vet, find someone in your life that is and ask them about their service – or just simply say thank you. Our gathering is just one small spark in the flame of pride that burns across the nation today and every