As a special tribute to our nation’s military veterans and the men and women currently serving in the Armed Forces, we salute you and give you honor. 

These fine individuals stand out from the crowd. They have become the pillars that support the many freedoms we now enjoy. These “unsung” heroes put their lives on the line to protect ours.

We celebrate our soldiers and veterans — not only on Veterans’ Day — but every day of the year. 

Veterans’ Day serves as a reminder of how precious our freedoms are and what a great country we live in. Many lives have been lost by men and women in the military who fought for our country’s freedoms. 

Our country has seen tragedies and triumphs, and in spite of it all, we continue to stand strong against adversity.

These freedoms should not be taken for granted, nor should they be abused. Many people throughout the world are suffering and have never known what it’s like to experience freedom. They risk their lives to journey to America, the country they consider to be the land of the free. I hope that we will continue to welcome them and provide a place of refuge.

I hope we never lose sight of the fact that we are the United States of America, “one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”