On the recordApril 18, 2013
on April 21, 88 World War II veterans from Montana will be visiting our Nation's Capital. With a great deal of honor and respect, I extend a hearty Montana welcome to each and every one of them. Together they will visit the World War II Memorial and share stories about their service. This journey will no doubt bring about a lot of memories, and I hope it will give them a deep sense of pride as well. What they achieved together seven decades ago was remarkable. The memorial is a testament to the fact a grateful nation will never forget what they did or what they sacrificed. To us, they are the ``greatest generation.'' They left the comforts of their family and their communities to confront evil from Iwo Jima to Bastogne. Together they won the war in the Pacific by defeating an empire and liberating the continent by destroying Hitler and the Nazis. To them, they were simply doing their jobs. They enlisted in unprecedented numbers to defend our freedoms and our values. They represented the very best of us and made us proud. From a young age, I remember playing the bugle at the memorial services of veterans of the first two World Wars. It instilled in me a profound sense of respect which will be with me forever. Honoring the service of every generation of American veterans is a Montana value. I deeply appreciate the work of the Big Sky Honor Flight, the nonprofit organization which made this trip possible.…
