Throughout this Nations’ history, America’s soldiers, sailors, aviators, Marines, and coastguardsmen have bravely answered the call to defend our freedom, to aid our friends and allies, and to turn back aggressors. We can never fully repay our debt of gratitude to the more than 1.1 million American service members who died in battle or the 1.4 million who were wounded, we can however, recognize and thank the twenty-five million veterans still living today.
While this country recognized Armistice Day for many years it was President Eisenhower who declared November 11 in 1954 as Veterans Day to solemnly remember the sacrifices of all those who fought so valiantly to preserve our heritage of freedom, and devote ourselves to the task of promoting an enduring peace so that their efforts shall not have been in vain.
After their service, men and women came home to raise families, work in the fields, learn a trade, run small and large businesses, serve as teachers and perhaps most importantly serve as mentors and leaders for the next generation. We are the proof and result of their service and dedication to this country.
Our nation honors her sons and daughters who answered the call to defend a country that celebrates personal achievement and provides for those cannot provide for themselves.
Our service men and women show us that heroism is remarkably sober and very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever the cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever the cost.
America is free thanks to generations of people who gave the best way they knew how, but freedom is not the right to do as we please, it is the opportunity to do what is right. And what is right today, right now and for the future is to take a moment to say thanks to those for their very personal contribution to America.
State Representative Dennis Malloy with Greenland veteran Vaughn Morgan delivering remarks at the Greenland Veterans Hall on November 11, 2023.