A day to pay tribute |
| November 11, 2013 |
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By Congressman Raul Labrador Today, on Veterans Day, we pay tribute to those brave men and women who have served our nation in uniform. We also honor the enduring service of our soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen. Whether during peacetime or war, at home or abroad, their service has been characterized by selflessness and a sense of greater purpose. Every year, just before Veterans Day, the city of Kuna holds a Veterans Assembly in which the entire community comes together to honor their local veterans. This year, I had the privilege of attending this wonderful event, in which over 1,500 people showed up. The entire high school was there, as were many residents of the Boise Veterans Home. It was humbling to meet true American heroes whose courage and compassion was clear for all to see. It was inspiring to watch young patriots wave flags and read poems to the veterans, thanking them for their service. The veterans, in turn, seemed energized by the young leaders of tomorrow. They could tell that the future of our country is in good hands. Very rarely do the generations blend together in such a powerful way. That’s what made the Kuna event special. It was the very definition of what a Veterans Day event should be. In my keynote speech, I noted that America is the “Land of the Free” because we truly are the “Home of the Brave.” We are the home of brave service men and women who, over the course of centuries, have answered the call of duty with dignity and honor. On so many battlefields, over so many generations, they have showed the true measure of American character. Whether they fought on the beaches of Normandy, or the skies over Midway, or through the mountains of Afghanistan – they have protected our nation and advanced the cause of freedom. That is something we must never take for granted. President Reagan once said, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.” Those who served our nation in uniform understand those words instinctively. They didn’t need to read it in some textbook. They didn’t need some politician to tell them. They felt it in their bones. And what they did with that feeling was turn it into action. For them, it became a way of life. A life they chose to live. And for making that choice, we are eternally grateful. We must also recognize that when a service member joins the military, it’s not just a job; it’s a family commitment to our country. For each deployed service member, there is often a wife or a husband left behind. These silent patriots kiss their loved ones goodbye, and send them far from home, often in harm’s way. They run their households. And they raise their children. And they do it without knowing if their loving partner will ever return. Whatever accolades we bestow upon our service members and veterans, we must also bestow upon their families. America owes them so much. In the nineteenth century, the French philosopher Alexis de Tocqueville traveled all across America to research his book, Democracy in America. And in that book, Tocqueville declared, “America is great because she is good. And if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.” I saw greatness in Kuna on Friday. And that’s because I also saw goodness. I am so proud of our military men and women in Idaho. And I am humbled by the opportunity they have given me – and all Americans: The opportunity to live peacefully in the greatest country in the world. And the greatest country that will ever be. May we remember our veterans – and all that they’ve given us– not just on Veterans Day, but every day. May God bless them, and may God continue to bless America. |