[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 172 (Thursday, November 10, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7360-S7361]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           VETERANS DAY 2011

  Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize and thank our 
Nation's veterans. They have helped define our country with their 
service, their commitment, their sacrifice, and their legacy.
  On November 11, 1918, the hostilities of World War I ceased. The 
commemoration of this day was originally known

[[Page S7361]]

as ``Armistice Day'' and was declared a Federal holiday. During a House 
debate on the topic, one Representative suggested that Armistice Day 
would ``not be devoted to the exaltation of glories achieved in war 
but, rather to an emphasis upon those blessings which are associated 
with the peacetime activities of mankind.'' By 1954 it was official 
that November 11 was the day to honor American veterans of all wars, 
and the day would officially be known as ``Veterans Day.''
  As we reflect on the service of heroes who have served our country in 
conflicts past including World War I, World War II, the Korean war, the 
Vietnam war, the Persian Gulf war and others, we must pause also to 
honor the dedication of the men and women who are putting their lives 
on the line today to protect our freedom. This includes not only those 
serving in Southwest Asia but also those in Kosovo, those standing 
watch of the Korean demilitarized zone, and those serving and 
sacrificing in countless other countries and regions around the world.
  For veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, we need to highlight 
the increasing problems they are having as they return home from 
service, from obtaining appropriate health care to finding jobs. In 
Alaska, I hear concerns about how the Federal Government's efforts to 
reduce the national debt may impact our servicemembers and veterans. I 
understand those concerns and believe we must honor our commitments to 
these men and women.
  In my home State of Alaska, we have the distinct pleasure and honor 
of having the largest per capita percentage of veterans of any State in 
the Union with 77,000 veterans who call Alaska home. In just a few 
months, Alaska-based soldiers will represent approximately 10 percent 
of America's Afghanistan presence. In Alaska, veterans are our 
neighbors, our coworkers, and our friends. I think it is fair to say 
that Alaskans understand and appreciate the sacrifice thousands of 
young men and women in uniform today are making, as well as the 
sacrifice all of our veterans have made. It is all of them who we honor 
today.
  Today as we honor those who have served, we also mourn. We mourn 
those veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice in the defense of 
freedom. Alaska has lost many members of our military community in the 
Afghanistan and Iraq wars. I extend my heartfelt sympathy to the 
families of all our fallen servicemembers.
  Finally, I would like to recognize one last group: the families and 
loved ones of America's veterans. These are the folks who have had to 
see their loved ones sent away to war zones and who worried about their 
well being every second, of every minute, of every day until the they 
returned. These are the people who singlehandedly manage households. 
These are the people who deal firsthand with the invisible scars and 
injuries of war, such as PTSD, when their loved one comes home. The 
family members of our veterans are heroes who bravely serve our Nation 
and rightfully deserve our recognition.
  So on this Veterans Day, I am honored to have the opportunity to 
stand among my colleagues to honor the veterans who made the ultimate 
sacrifice, those who made it home, those who are still serving across 
the world, and the families and loved ones of America's veterans. While 
words cannot express the gratitude we have for our veterans, with a 
unified voice we want to say thank you.
  Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, in honor of Veterans Day and the men and 
women of the Armed Forces and their families I ask unanimous consent 
that this poem penned by Albert Caswell be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                           This Veteran's Day

                          (By Albert Caswell)

     This. . . .
     This Veteran's Day. . . .
     As you kneel down and pray. . . .
     Pray a prayer, for all those heroes who can not so be here 
           this day. . . .
     Who now so far across the shores, so walk into that valley of 
           death for us as do they. . . .
     All with families who live so close, whose love ones but mean 
           the most . . . we pray. . . .
     Who live in worry and so fear, who live in tears. . . .
     And the ones who but gave That Last Full Measure, America's 
           Greatest of All Treasures here!
     Who are now so separated on this earth, forevermore because 
           of their fine worth so portrayed. . . .
     Until, up in Heaven once more they will together be as their 
           tears begin to burst will they. . . .
     And pray for all those families, who with such faith do now 
           so believe!
     Who are now so left upon this earth, now so left all alone to 
           so grieve. . . .
     And when you look upon your child. . . .
     And you so see, all of their most wonderful smiles. . . .
     And everything seems so right, as you hold them tight so all 
           the while. . . .
     Remember all of them and all of these!
     The Armed Forces and their families, do so please!
     One and all, all Patriots of Peace!
     And remember all of those children, who now so live in tears. 
           . . .
     This Veterans Day, hold them so close all in your quiet 
           prayers. . . .
     For this is but a most sacred day. . . .
     For all those who fight, and have so fought for us throughout 
           the years and days!
     And now so too, the ones who now so who. . . . but lie in 
           such soft cold quiet graves. . . .
     Who have so taught us all, so how to so behave!
     Who but lived and died, and so bled and cried . . . all in 
           time, for all of us who so gave!
     For they are America's very Heart, and Soul. . . .
     All because them, all of our Freedoms we now so hold!
     So make sure of this, that all of your children are so told!
     Take the time, to tell them all about. . . . all of their 
           most splendid hearts of gold!
     And all of those families whose loved ones, they can no 
           longer so hold. . . .
     Who are so separated by time and distance and so death. . . . 
           to our world to so bless!
     Forget not, all of these most brilliant hearts of splendid 
           gold. . . .
     Who without arms and legs, who now so live on today whose 
           fine hearts so crest!
     Without eyes upon their faces, and broken in all places, 
           whose courageous hearts us so bless!
     Who too on this day so grieve, all for their Brother and 
           Sisters in Arms who too so believed!
     The ones who awake in the middle of the night, with dreams of 
           dreadful fright. . . .
     Reliving all of those moments, of all of those lost lives. . 
           . .
     The ones who so died in their arms, as they so cried. . . .
     As now it's for them too, we all all so cry. . . .
     And when they play Taps, remember all of those most splendid 
           of lost lives. . . .
     As you wipe away those tears from all your eyes. . . .
     And when you look into That Old Red, White and Blue. . . .
     Old Glory Our Flag. . . . and you see all of their faces, all 
           in her most magnificent hue. . . .
     Take time to salute America's Very Best. . . . on This 
           Veteran's Day imbued!
     For all of those, who have so lived and died. . . , for what 
           was right and true!
     And for all those, who now so lie in such soft cold quiet 
           graves. . . .
     For them feel the sun in your face, and hug your children 
           tight at night. . . .
     And as with them all you play. . . . Cherish, your Freedom On 
           This Veteran's Day!
     And take a moment, for all of them and their most magnificent 
           families to so pray. . . .
     And thank The Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and The 
           United States Marines. . . .
     Who for all of us, The Great Price of Freedom They So Pay!
     Remember Them, and be thankful as you kneel down to pray!
     On This Veteran's Day.

                          ____________________