Mike Levin: “this year, as we again remember our veterans and the sacrifices they have made for our country on this 11th day of the…”

“this year, as we again remember our veterans and the sacrifices they have made for our country on this 11th day of the 11th month, the men and women serving in our Armed Forces deserve special recognition. This year's remembrance is a unique time as we honor new veterans coming home from the battlefields of Afghanistan and Iraq who have made the sacrifice and have answered the call. Our appreciation and gratitude extends to all of them and their families for the sacrifices that they have made. As of last week, 395 American service members have been killed and 1,889 American service members have been wounded during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Our thoughts and prayers are with them and their families. We pray for the safety of those still in harm's way and hope they return home soon. I visited some of our servicemen and women at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here in Washington, DC recuperating from wounds they received in Iraq. Some of them had lost limbs, and face significant physical challenges in building a new life. As I expressed my appreciation to them for their sacrifices, I was humbled and inspired by their high spirits, their determination and their abiding faith in our country. November 11th--the day World War I ended in 1917--has been a distinguished day of recognition for America's veterans since 1954 when President Dwight Eisenhower signed into law the day that would honor the men and women who have served in our Nation's Armed Forces.”