Patrick Leahy: “as I was watching the sunrise this morning, I thought of the men and women currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan…”

“as I was watching the sunrise this morning, I thought of the men and women currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, and our Nation's veterans of past wars. Today, we must remember those who have sacrificed to defend the freedoms and ideals all Americans enjoy. In our thoughts are not just the proud Americans who are fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan today, nor just the members of the ``Greatest Generation'' who fought in World War II. We think about those who lost their lives or served in the extended Cold War, the Korean War, Vietnam or who gave their lives in some of the less-known engagements across the globe aimed at preserving our country and preserving basic human rights throughout the world. Of course, most in our minds right now are 130,000 men and women serving in Iraq. Over 30,000 of these troops are reservists who left their civilian jobs and families to serve in Iraq with pride and determination. Whether Active-Duty soldiers or Reserves, every single person in the military is there because they want to be there, and we owe them a special kind of gratitude for their service. Today we should not just think about our veterans, but also address policies that will directly address their needs, whether they are still in the service or after they have returned.”