Haley Stevens: “It has been over 50 years since my good friends, Senator Inouye, Senator Hollings, Senator Warner, Senator Lautenberg…”

“It has been over 50 years since my good friends, Senator Inouye, Senator Hollings, Senator Warner, Senator Lautenberg, Senator Akaka, and I returned home from World War II. When I joined the Senate in 1968, approximately half of the Members of the Senate were World War II veterans. While there are several Senators here who have served in Korea, Vietnam, and in later engagements, there are a few of us still around who lived through World War II. We are proud of a tradition of over 48 million Americans who have served in our Armed Forces since 1776. Whenever our Nation has needed warriors to defend our Nation, young men and women in uniform have stepped forward, willing to bear that burden. This day, Veterans Day, is a reminder to us of their courage, bravery, and sacrifice. These days, our thoughts are never far from a battlefield. New generations have answered the call to service, and as we meet today, they are defending us in some of the most dangerous places in the world, where they face determined enemies and terrorists. I join all here today in thanking each of them for their service and thank their families for their sacrifice. I had the honor to serve in the Army Air Corps with a squadron in China in World War II. Our squadron motto was: We do the impossible immediately, miracles take slightly longer. The history of our Nation's Armed Forces is one of impossible challenges and formidable enemies.”