Dear Friends,
Today is Veterans Day and we recognize the brave men and women who have taken the oath and put on the uniform to serve our Republic in the armed forces – the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard, and our National Guard. Generations of our citizens have answered that call of duty, in peacetime and war, some as volunteers, some by draft, for almost 250 years.
For two and a half centuries, our veterans have risen to any and every challenge put to them. Veterans have served the interests of freedom at home and around the globe, sometimes at a terrible cost and the ultimate sacrifice of their lives. It is a debt that we can never fully repay.
It is not just the veterans who serve. Their families serve too – their parents, siblings, children, and everyone who supports them quietly in this mission. While glory and honor may go to the individual veteran, there are millions of family members whose hearts leap with pride at that service, or perhaps stop in panic when there is a knock at the door during deployment. Those families deserve our accolades and gratitude as well.
I am profoundly grateful to live peacefully in a nation defended by such heroism. Our veterans provide the security and strength necessary for our Republic to remain a beacon inspiring all freedom-loving people across the world. That beacon can only stay lit if there are brave men and women to defend it against all threats.
If we are to begin to pay that debt to our veterans, let us start with being the kind of Americans worthy of such sacrifice from our heroes. We have limitless opportunity, every day, to demonstrate the character that will make every veteran even more proud of their contributions.
Veterans, thank you for all that you have done in service to our Republic. You have my deepest respect.
