Political Quotes

“I rise today to pay special tribute to the proud Michigan residents who have served in our Nation's military and their families. When our country was at risk of fracturing in a brutal Civil War, the people of Michigan volunteered. When fascism threatened freedom around the world, the people of Michigan fought back. And when faced with new dangers--from terrorism to pandemic diseases--the people of Michigan remain willing to put our lives on the line on behalf of the American people. Whenever and wherever our Nation needs us, the people of Michigan always respond. In some families, this spirit of service stretches back generations. The Armsteads are one such Michigan family. Peter Armstead was originally from England, but when his new Nation needed him, he answered the call. He fought during the Civil War and barely survived his time in a Confederate prisoner of war camp in Mississippi. Earl Armstead, Peter's grandson, served in France during World War I, where he was put in charge of destroying enemy bridges. He came home suffering from post-traumatic stress and, like so many of our veterans, struggled to talk about what he had seen. And Robert Armstead, Earl's nephew, also fought in Europe during World War II. He served in the Tank Destroyer Battalion and took part in the Po Valley campaign in Italy. His unit was being readied for the Pacific Campaign when the war ended.…”