A Salute to Our Soldiers on Veterans Day

As Americans, we are blessed to live our lives outside the shadowing fear of lawlessness and tyranny. We leave our homes each day expecting to reunite with our families in the evening. We rest easy through the night and awaken each morning to another day of freedom. Thanks to the sacrifices of our servicemen and women, we as Americans live in a manner that is locked and off limits to most of the world.

On this Veterans Day, I ask you to take a moment and appreciate the freedoms afforded by our past and present military. As you read this in the comfort of your home or office, there are brave men and women - our sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, aunts and uncles - who are under the gun and in harm's way so that we may live in peace. Let us be mindful of their service and the families who pray for their safety. Let us remember our retired and fallen who put us where we are today. America. The Land of the Free.

I also ask today that we remember and pray for the lives that were shattered a year ago this month at Fort Hood in Killeen. Our hearts are heavy for their unspeakable loss. We know that no amount of justice will return their loved ones and we reach out to them with remembrance and gratitude. You and your loved ones are not forgotten. We pray that you find peace.

Please count your blessings as an American today and then thank a soldier for wearing the uniform.

Remembering Pearl Harbor

As we remember and honor our troops who were attacked 68 years ago at Pearl Harbor, we are reminded of the ongoing sacrifices made by our men and women in the armed forces. For those brave public servants stationed around the world today, the threat of ambush is as real as it was in 1941. Our troops who face that threat and stand ready to defeat it are the reason we enjoy peace on the home front. Please join me on this important anniversary in saluting our men in women in uniform while we remember those who fought and fell in years past so that we might enjoy the liberties bestowed upon us today.