On Veterans Day, we pay tribute to the more than 500,000 Tennesseans who have worn the uniform of our country and who defended her honor in times of war and peace. This day speaks to the very best of America and, for me, the occasion is an opportunity to honor my father, my brother, my husband, and my son.
I know so many of you have special veterans in your life. If you are like me, you are proud of their service and you want to know that their sacrifices will be reflected in the decisions that are made in Washington. That is one of the reasons why I am serving in Congress today.
On Veterans Day, I often think back to a famous quote from our nation’s 40th President, Ronald Reagan, that hangs on a placard in my office. It says “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it on to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.”
Our nation’s veterans have heeded that call and some paid the ultimate sacrifice in the process. To our veterans in Tennessee’s 6th District and across this country: We are grateful for your service, we are inspired by your example, and we pledge to keep telling your story — so that our children and our children’s children will know that freedom was bought with a price.
