|
My Fellow Veterans,
On this Veterans Day, when those of us who have worn the uniform of our country think of the brothers in arms we love and those we lost years ago when we were young and innocent, I want first to say thank you to the great 'band of brothers' who crisscrossed this country on my behalf through 2004. We're older and grayer, but even after last Tuesday, we still know how to fight for our country.
And the fight for veterans goes on -- and I need your help to lead that fight in the United States Senate.
During the election, you had the courage to speak the truth about the needs of veterans in America -- and you need to continue telling the truth. We veterans need to continue speaking out so that the family of 21-year-old Jay Briseno, a veteran facing a lifetime of disability, doesn't have to sleep at his bedside because the VA can't afford to give him the round-the-clock nursing care he needs. We veterans need to speak out for our fellow veterans like Joey DuBoise -- whom I got to know in New Hampshire -- who is in a wheelchair for the rest of his life, and who needs -- at last -- full concurret receipt so he can pay his medical bills and still pay the rent.
I salute each and every one of you for your commitment, strength and extraordinary courage. America says thank you -- thank you especially to those currently risking their lives as faraway as Iraq and Afghanistan. America's prayers are with you. We honor your service, thank you for your sacrifice, and pledge to stand with your families as you stand for ours.
Like veterans of all wars past, today's fighting men and women deserve our prayers and support; and then, when they come home, they deserve the respect and welcome of a grateful nation. After all, the first definition of patriotism is to keep faith with those who have worn the uniform of the United States of America.
One of the best ways to do that is to make sure that those who have served us on the front lines return to an America that gives them the tools to build strong families and strong communities here at home. This means transitional assistance to help all those returning from war, struggling to readjust to civilian life, and coping with the scars of battle, those both seen and unseen. This is about keeping a sacred promise. It is about love of country. And it is about protecting those who have risked their lives to protect ours.
That's why, on this Veterans Day, we must commit ourselves to one more mission. We need to build an America where 500,000 veterans are not excluded from the VA healthcare system. We need to build an America where we're not closing VA hospitals, so that veterans can't reach the care they need. We need to build an America where veterans are not asked for increasing co-payments, enrollment fees, and other charges to shift the burden of care to other veterans and drive more than a million veterans out of the system.We need to build an America where 400,000 military retirees get real concurrent receipt. We need to build an America where there are no homeless veterans on the streets of America. We need to build an America where more than 320,000 veterans no longer are waiting for decisions on disability claims and another 100,000 are not awaiting appeals decisions. We need to build an America where the VA Secretary does not have to complain that he needs more than the White House wanted to give him.
That's our duty -- and that's the responsibility I carry with me after fighting by your side and traveling with you for two long years. We can't give up, our brothers need us to continue the fight for veterans in the country we love.
Every year we mark Veterans Day with pride and gratitude that so many Americans have answered the call to serve our country. Their courage, their honor, and their selflessness is worthy of a nation that is not just great, but also good. We salute them and all who have served the cause of freedom throughout our country's history.
But now we have a call to service once more -- to serve them.
On this Veterans Day, I say God Bless -- and let's continue the fight for America's veterans.
Thank you,
|
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
