On the recordMarch 25, 2014
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember and honor the more than 3 million Americans who served in the Vietnam war. This weekend, we will observe Vietnam Veterans Day to pay tribute to these brave Americans who were called to serve during one of our Nation's longest and most difficult conflicts. Lasting more than a decade, Vietnam defined a generation. Over 58,000 Americans were killed, and those who did return home were not treated as the American heroes that they are. In recent years, I am grateful that most Americans have been able to put aside their opinions about specific military missions and have an unwavering commitment to our courageous men and women operating in dangerous places around the world. Vietnam Veterans Day is meant to reaffirm our respecting gratitude for those that served our Nation in that war and show a generation of soldiers our immense gratitude. I will be doing so this Saturday at the VFW Post in Lemont, Illinois. I ask my colleagues to join me in doing the same, not just this weekend, but every day, because our Vietnam veterans, and all our veterans, deserve this. ____________________
