[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 93 (Wednesday, June 6, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S3003]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                         Honoring Our Veterans

  On another matter, Mr. President, I was honored to meet a number of 
Kentucky veterans at the World War II Memorial and welcome them to 
Washington.
  My father fought in World War II, so I was particularly grateful to 
hear these veterans' stories and share their special moments of 
remembrance. One man I talked to is 100 years old. He was in the 
initial invasion when we finally got on offense in North Africa. He 
fought in every theater in Europe and was there when the Germans 
surrendered on May 8, 1945. He landed at Omaha Beach, but he said it 
was 2 days after the invasion, so there was a second wave of soldiers 
coming in after the invasion, and there are stories and stories of 
people like that.
  I had a chance to thank each of them, as well as the Honor Flight 
Bluegrass organization, which takes on the logistical and financial 
burdens so that veterans can travel to their monuments at no personal 
cost.
  I was especially glad this opportunity came today, on the 74th 
anniversary of the D-day invasion. On June 6, 1944, the free world 
embarked on a daring mission of historic proportions. With conviction, 
bravery, and patriotism, the ``greatest generation'' ran into the 
breach.
  Many paid the ultimate price on D-day, but their bravery paved the 
road to victory in Europe. Allied troops stared down the most 
pernicious evil the modern world had ever seen--and prevailed.
  The world has changed in the years since D-day, but some things 
haven't changed at all. We still honor the sacrifices of those who ran 
into the breach.
  Today, the President will sign into law the VA MISSION Act that 
Congress passed last month. It is a set of major improvements in the 
way we care for American veterans--increasing their choices and 
expanding access to care for those who sacrificed to serve.
  Here is something else that hasn't changed: We still call on brave 
men and women to take on a wide array of difficult missions.