05.31.10

Cantwell Statement on Memorial Day

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) released the following statement in honor of the nation’s armed forces and veterans on Memorial Day:
 
“On this Memorial Day, we, as a nation, pause and remember the sacrifices made by the courageous men and women who have fought and continue fighting to keep our nation safe. 
 
“War entails untold sacrifice and hardship. Today, as we at home mark the beginning of summer, tens of thousands of our men and women in uniform – in the active-duty Armed Forces and the National Guard and Reserve – are deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq where they risk their lives every day. And so before the picnics, before the fireworks, let us honor those who have fought selflessly to defend our country in past wars, and to those who do so today.
 
“For many of us, the best way to pay tribute to the men and women who have sacrificed in service to our country is to remember their stories. I remember my own father. He volunteered to serve in the Army Air Force during World War II, and flew missions over Europe. I remember the soldiers I met when visiting Iraq and those I’ve met touring Washington’s military bases. And I think of our military families – the children, siblings, parents and spouses who, on this day, are thinking of a loved-one in harm’s way on the other side of the world.   
 
“Washington state has a proud history of involvement in and support for our nation’s Armed Forces. This Memorial Day, I especially celebrate the men and women from Washington who have given so much to our nation, including the thousands of citizen soldiers who serve in the National Guard and Reserve. Volunteers all, they serve with the knowledge that they could one day have to pay the ultimate price to protect their country.”
 
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