Honoring our Veterans

On Wednesday we commemorated Veterans Day, a day on which to honor those among us who have heard the call of their nation and served diligently. They made a commitment to serve, and in return, we have made a commitment to veterans that must be honored. We owe our veterans a tremendous amount of gratitude. Young men and women who grew up in Kansas City and across our nation have sacrificed dearly for their country. I believe that by providing convenient and timely access to medical and other fundamental services, we can honor this commitment.

Saline County Veterans on their Honor Flight trip to the National Mall in 2013.

Many times I greet veterans who come to DC with the Honor Flight Network with the opportunity to see the great Monuments erected in their honor. It is a great honor to meet them there, and thank them for what they gave to our country. Many times as I walk along the National Mall and Memorial Parks, I will walk past the World War II Monument, the Korean War Memorial, and the Vietnam Wall. It awakens a reminder of our nation's journey and of the men and women, who shed their blood, sacrificed themselves, and who in times of war and peace served to protect our great nation. Our veterans from every generation stepped forward and fought on the battlefield of freedom.

Thank you to every United States veteran for serving and those that are serving today. I am both awed and humbled that you willingly, without reservation, answer the call of America to protect liberty and freedom. To your families I say thank you for your service, support, and sacrifice. So today and every day let it be known that veterans and their families have our country’s and my deepest appreciation and respect. May God bless this great land we call the United States of America and all veterans who have preserved and are preserving our liberty and freedom today.

Warmly,