[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Page 6398]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              MEMORIAL DAY

  Mrs. STABENOW. Madam President, I wish to reflect on this year's 
Memorial Day and the importance of this holiday in American life.
  As I attend Memorial Day parades and commemorations, I am struck by 
our spirit of national unity. I know that across Michigan--and across 
our Nation--our fellow Americans are taking part in similar gatherings 
where we stop and reflect on our history and the sacrifice made by so 
many in order to bring our Nation to where we are today.
  Memorial Day is unique among American holidays. On Memorial Day, we 
do not honor a particular date or event, a battle or the end of a war. 
On Memorial Day, we do not honor an individual leader--a President or a 
general.
  On Memorial Day, we pay homage to the thousands and thousands of 
individual acts of bravery and sacrifice that stretch back to the 
battlefields of our Revolution and to those taking place today in 
conflicts across our world.
  Last month, I was reminded of the significance of this day when I 
welcomed 76 Michigan World War II and Korean war veterans to Washington 
from Michigan's Upper Peninsula as part of the Honor Flight Network.
  These veterans visited the World War II and Korean war memorials, and 
at the end of the day, received personalized notes thanking them for 
their service. The mission of the Honor Flight Network is a fitting 
tribute to our ``greatest generation.''
  This Memorial Day we not only honor past generations, but our current 
generation of young men and women who are serving or have come home. In 
April, 350 airmen and 12 A-10 Thunderbolt II planes from our Selfridge 
Air National Guard Base deployed to the Middle East to fight the 
terrorist group ISIL as part of Operation Inherent Resolve.
  This Memorial Day is a reminder of our obligation to honor our 
commitment to all our generations of veterans by making sure they have 
the support they need and the benefits they deserve.
  As we observe this holiday, let us remember the centuries of 
sacrifice by the many men and women that this day represents. And let 
us make sure that all who served with honor are honored in return.

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