Veterans Day should cause all of us to stop and remember the sacrifices made by America's veterans. We owe our freedom, heritage, and most of all our gratitude to these military veterans. Their service spans every decade, every year, every day of our country's existence.
The American veteran stood strong and sturdy. Their personal sacrifice and dedication preserved our nation in the toughest of times. As a result, what we hold has survived and America remains free and democratic.
It is fitting to pause today and remember the contributions of our veterans. Whether at peace or at war, the most important role of the veteran cannot be denied. Peace itself demands continuing effort and renewed sacrifice by those who serve. They must always be ready for what may happen. They must always train for war. By necessity, peace must be a time of readiness, a time of watchfulness.
When peace fails, as we have seen so often, the brutality of war arrives. Time and again in the last century, we have heard the call to arms. Americans have always responded to that call--a call that has often led to loneliness, danger, injury, and for many death.
No side of war escapes the injury and pain of battle, least of all the ones who do the fighting. For they know that where there is no strength, there is no struggle. The suffering can be immense. Yet, our soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines have done the job in combat for more than two centuries. Why have so many willingly faced the terror that only war can bring? The answer to this question lies deep within the heart of each individual.
These citizen-soldiers were not seeking personal gain or a path to fame. Their country called and they answered. It's a simple, patriotic response.
Today, just as in the past, these men and women are a cross-section of American society. Like the veterans who came before them, they come from every region of the country, and are of every creed and race, and from every kind of background. That is the way it should be. Those who defend America are, in essence, America itself.
They are the sons and daughters of generations past that built this nation with blood, sweat and toil. They have picked up the baton from veterans of yesterday in the continuing contest for freedom and democracy.
Those who serve today share the same dream with those who served before - a dream of peace and prosperity within the framework of human rights.
So it is on this Veteran's Day, that we thank Tennessee's Veterans for their service to the United States. To the veterans today…We say thank you. We owe you a debt of gratitude that we can never repay. To the veterans who spilled their blood and died in combat protecting freedom…We say go be with God, as God has been with you.
