HONORING OUR NATION''S VETERANS
With the end of the First World War, America felt the need to honor its soldiers, and memorial gestures became common each year on November 11 – commemorating the cessation of fighting in World War I on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. The day became known as Armistice Day. Only decades after the end of World War I, however, a new generation of veterans was born with the conclusions of World War II and the Korean War. It was in recognition of the veterans of these conflicts that Congress decided in 1954 to change November 11 to Veterans Day in honor of all American veterans.
There are nearly 26 million veterans living in American today, including nearly 6 million from World War II. Sadly, we lose around 2,000 veterans every day, mostly those who served during the Second World War. Each one of these men and women has a story to tell about their service and sacrifice, stories that must be told before time runs out. Born in the roaring twenties, the young men and women of "The Greatest Generation" came of age as America plunged deep into the Great Depression. As our nation slowly climbed out of those dire economic doldrums – the likes of which we have not experienced since – an unthinkable second world war in Europe and Asia clouded their future.
Despite the frightening prospect of further tremendous sacrifice, more than 16 million of these young Americans answered the call to serve in our nation's greatest wartime effort; each one prepared to pay the ultimate price in the name of freedom. Maine sent 112,962 of her men and women to serve in the war. I know the face of heroism first-hand: my father was one of those young Mainers. At 19-years-old, he was wounded twice in the Battle of the Bulge, for which he later received a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star. His story and the stories of countless others remind us of the selflessness of so many who gave of themselves to safeguard the values of democracy and freedom upon which America was built.
As great as those sacrifices were, however, none can compare in magnitude to those made by the men and women who lost their lives for the cause of freedom. Indeed, it is the 2,551 Mainers and nearly 292,000 Americans who gave what Abraham Lincoln called "the last full measure of their devotion" in World War II who serve as a testament to the bravery of all of our veterans. By their sacrifices, we are reminded of the extraordinary patriotism and courage of all those who put their lives on the line to protect this nation and the price they are willing to pay.
Just as the terrorist attacks of September 11th taught us that we cannot take the values of freedom and liberty for granted, likewise, we cannot take for granted the service of those who make up the United States military, the finest fighting force in the world. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I am proud to follow in the footsteps of Senator Margaret Chase Smith, who was the first woman to serve on that Committee, and whose seat in the Senate I now hold. Senator Smith worked tirelessly to improve the status, benefits, and pay for our military men — and women. I promise to carry on that tradition, working to make our military a place where the service of American men and women is always valued, where they are well paid, well housed, well equipped. A place where – when their service is complete — they are well taken care of, as promised.
Our veterans, particularly those who bear the scars of service, deserve ample compensation, compassionate healthcare, and our respect and gratitude. The Department of Veterans Affairs provides a variety of services to the millions of veterans in America today. The Department operates the largest direct health care delivery system in the country with 1,013 healthcare facilities staffed by more than 19,300 medical workers. This fiscal year the federal government will spend more than $23 billion on veterans' health care, serving more than 4,671,000 patients. Congress is currently considering an increase of roughly $3 billion in veterans' health care spending for fiscal year 2004, and, despite the difficult fiscal climate, I will continue to work on behalf of our veterans to secure them the benefits they deserve.
One need not hold elected office to pay tribute to our nation's veterans, however. Americans can rally behind the men and women who have served our country by proudly flying the American flag at their homes and businesses, by preserving the stories of their sacrifice and sharing them with their families and communities, and by simply taking the time to say "thank you" to a veteran or to a man or woman serving today in the armed services.
All Americans owe a debt of gratitude to those who have taken on the burden of military service. My father once told me that "we do not truly die until we cease to affect the lives of others." By that standard, these American heroes will continue to live long after their time among us has passed, their spirit embodied in the freedom that our nation treasures.
