[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 17000]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           VETERANS DAY 2011

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, tomorrow is a very important day--
Veterans Day--a day we set aside to honor the service and sacrifice of 
the heroic men and women who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. 
America remains a beacon of freedom throughout the world today because 
of the commitments and sacrifices they have made. Over the years, many 
brave Americans donned their country's uniform to ensure we would 
remain safe and free here at home.
  My own State of Kentucky has a proud and honorable military history 
and today is home to both Fort Knox and Fort Campbell, which together 
house thousands of soldiers. The Commonwealth is also home to scores of 
brave National Guard members and reservists. The efforts of our 
soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines from Kentucky and all 50 States 
continue today, as our fighting forces courageously defend freedom from 
dangerous enemies all around the world.
  I have been honored to meet with the families of Bluegrass State 
servicemembers who have been lost in war. I would like to share with my 
colleagues a little of what they have told me about how proud they are 
of their loved ones' service.
  One soldier's son said:

       Nobody wants to see their father die . . . but to have it 
     be while doing something of this significance, we're proud of 
     him.

  Another soldier's widow told me:

       There are no great words in a time of deep tragedy. But 
     surely there are great men in the midst of great tragedy.

  And I will never forget what a preacher said of his lost congregant:

       [He] didn't want to die, he didn't intend to die. But he 
     was willing to lay down his life. That's what a hero is.

  On Veterans Day, we pay tribute to everyone who ever bore arms in 
service of this Nation. We can express our thanks and our gratitude to 
those who are still with us. And we must honor in our memories those 
who did not return home.
  We pay tribute to the families of our servicemembers, too, because 
they have made a sacrifice as well by loaning America their sons, 
daughters, husbands, and wives.
  And we pay tribute to the indomitable American spirit that is 
essential to the survival of liberty. It is thanks to America's 
veterans and their exceptional service that we have upheld this spirit.
  Lastly, I would like to offer best wishes for a happy birthday to our 
marines deployed across the globe, especially to our Kentucky marines 
who have been such a source of pride to the Commonwealth.

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