Sherrod Brown: “earlier today, I left a Banking Committee hearing to go out to Arlington National Cemetery to meet with a group of World…”

“earlier today, I left a Banking Committee hearing to go out to Arlington National Cemetery to meet with a group of World War II veterans. A woman by the name of Ms. Best, who had served in World War II, was laying the wreath on behalf of Miami County, OH, veterans--some 35 or so veterans from Ohio who took a bus under the sponsorship of Glenn Devers, who raises money so veterans can come to Washington and lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and then proceed to see the World War II monument. I was struck, first, by all the stories of Mr. and Mrs. Whited, for instance. Mr. Whited was called off to the service and went overseas. His child was born a few months after he left, and when he returned, he saw his son for the first time, who was the age of 2. He is now more than 60 years old. I was taken by the stories of so many of these World War II veterans, their courage and heroism, their love of country, their duty, their commitment, and their patriotism. They surely-- without overusing the phrase--were part of ``the greatest generation.'' Few veterans have asked for credit or recognition, but it was such a pleasure to go there and talk to them today. I had one request of them. Of course, I thanked them over and over. I had one request, and that was that these veterans, both men and women, tell their stories to their children and grandchildren.”