Veterans Day

On Veterans Day, Americans across the State of Maine and across our nation pause to observe a solemn anniversary. We set aside this day not to celebrate victory in a great battle, but to honor the sacrifice that brought peace. The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 was not marked by the roar of cannon. Rather, it was the moment the guns were silenced by courage, devotion to duty, and a commitment to freedom.

The virtues that brought about that silence echo throughout our history. From Lexington and Concord, to Gettysburg, from Verdun, Iwo Jima, Normandy, Korea, and Vietnam to Kuwait, Kosovo, and today in Afghanistan and Iraq, American men and women have served our country with both bravery and compassion. Whether they serve in the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, or the Merchant Marine, whether they serve in the regular forces, the National Guard or the Reserves, they wear the uniforms not of the conqueror, but of the liberator.

The men and women we honor on Veterans Day have shouldered the cost of our freedom in times of conflict, and they are our shield in times of peace. We honor those who paid the ultimate price. We honor those who lived beyond their years of military service but who have since passed on. And we honor those who are with us today. We owe them all a great debt.

We repay that debt in part with the gratitude we express on Veterans Day, but only in part. Today, more than 25 million Americans wear the proud title of veteran. Their ranks include more than 11 million men and women from the conflicts of Korea and Vietnam, and 3.8 million who served in the Persian Gulf. They include more than 3.5 million who served in World War II. And on Veterans Day 2005, it is still possible for some of us to thank, in person, some 50 Americans who were in uniform when the guns of World War I fell silent 87 years ago. More than 400,000 young Americans have returned home after serving in our all-volunteer forces in Afghanistan and Iraq. In addition to our gratitude, we must also repay our debt with the health care, rehabilitation services, educational and employment opportunities our veterans have earned by their service to our country.

One of the greatest honors I have enjoyed while representing Maine in the United States Senate is the opportunity I've had to meet with our troops overseas, in South Korea, Kosovo, and twice in Afghanistan and Iraq. It has been a particular honor to meet with the sons and daughters of Maine serving in freedom's cause. These citizen-soldiers face danger, they endure hardship, and they long for the comforts of home, friends, and family. Yet they serve with pride. When I visit our troops, I see in their faces and hear in their voices the legacy of duty, courage, and compassion they have inherited from those who served in other far-away places in other dangerous times. It is a legacy they are enhancing and that will inspire the generations to come.

Americans love peace. When we do go to war, it is always with reluctance. The Americans we honor on Veterans Day fought for the security of our nation, and for benefit of all mankind. They humbled tyrants, defended the innocent, and freed the oppressed. Those who serve today – the veterans of tomorrow – carry on this great mission. They are adding their great achievements to history. They, like those who came before, have earned our deepest thanks, not just on Veterans Day, but for all the days to come.