On the recordNovember 18, 2020
I thank my colleague from North Carolina for joining us to talk about our veterans and about how important they are. North Carolina, of course, is home to many of our Active-Duty installations, which house many of our brave, young men and women from across the United States. Many Iowans will travel to the great Fort Bragg or other installations and call North Carolina home at least for a short while. So thanks to my colleague for joining us today. Thanksgiving dinner has become the single most celebrated meal of the year, with tens of millions of Americans gathering with family and friends to give thanks for their blessings and, of course, for one another. And, folks, I know that this year, it is a lot different. While we still have so much to be thankful for, the COVID-19 pandemic means folks will be traveling less and might not be celebrating in larger groups. As a result, many will be separated from their loved ones on this very special day. But, folks, this is a very familiar feeling for anyone who has ever served in our Nation's Armed Forces. There is no vacation from protecting our Nation. At any given moment, thousands of men and women, moms and dads, brothers and sisters, are stationed around the world, standing vigilant in the defense of freedom. Those wearing the uniform aren't the only ones making a sacrifice, either. Back home, there is an empty seat at the family table.…