Political Quotes

“Madam President, I would like to take a moment to honor and thank those who have earned the noble title of ``veteran.'' The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month marked the end of World War I. Since then, this date has been celebrated first as Armistice Day and now as Veterans Day, but no matter what we call it, it serves the purpose of honoring our Nation's heroes--those who have served in the military, our veterans. As the son of a World War II veteran who served as a waist gunner on B-17s, I grew up in a family with values rooted in military tradition. My father remained in the military until he retired from the Air Force as a master sergeant after 20 years of service. At an early age, my brother, my sister, and I were taught about the sacrifices our men and women in uniform make. Growing up in this environment gave us an understanding of the unique challenges military families face--an understanding that guides my efforts today. My mom would continually remind me of my responsibility as a public servant to keep our promises to those who served our Nation in uniform. Up until her recent passing, one of the first questions she would ask whenever I saw her would inevitably be: What have you done for veterans lately? I was always able to answer that question with a clean conscience while serving in the House and now in the Senate.…”