Senator Collins Honors the Sacrifice of Our Nation’s Veterans

   WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins released a statement honoring our nation's veterans on Veterans Day:

     "Veterans Day honors all Americans who answered freedom's call throughout our nation's history, whether in times of war or in times of peace.

     “An estimated 48 million Americans have served in uniform since the founding of our nation. More than 1.3 million gave their lives to freedom's cause, 1.5 million have been wounded, and some 38,000 have been counted among the missing. Today, 22 million veterans live among us, including more than 127,000 in Maine. These numbers are not just statistics; each one tells a story of courage, sacrifice, and devotion to duty, and today we honor them and thank them for their courage, sacrifice, and service.

     “Today we also pay tribute to the parents, the wives and husbands, the children, and the other loved ones of our veterans and our troops. The families of those who serve face the challenges of carrying on with their day-to-day lives while suffering from the pain caused by separation and worry, and, at times, the grief of loss. Their sacrifices are great, and we thank them as well.

     "As the daughter of a World War II veteran who earned a Purple Heart and Bronze Star, I am honored to be an advocate for our veterans.

     “This Veterans Day, let us thank all those who have served through words and actions that proclaim our gratitude and celebrate the American spirit, remembering the obligation we all have to be citizens worthy of the sacrifices of others.”

Click HERE to read a column from Senator Collins’ on the recent christening of the Navy’s newest destroyer, the USS Rafael Peralta, at Bath Iron Works.