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Congressman Johnson's 2018 Veterans Day statement

November 10, 2018

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I was honored to participate this year in the Art Institute of Atlanta's Veteran's Day Program, where we honored our military veterans, active personnel and of course those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. I was joined by USMC Sgt. Thomas H. P. Carroll, a Vietnam War veteran, and Chef Carl S. Redding, a student at the Art Institute of Atlanta and former Marine.

Carl said: "Veteran's Day is a time for us to take time and remember those who have fought for the freedoms that we hold so dear. We should not take their sacrifice for granted."

I agree. Whether our veterans fought at Normandy or Falluja, Mogadishu or Helmand, in the Persian Gulf or in the Tet Offensive or simply provided support here at home, our veterans represent the very best men and women who have served our country in battle.

On Veterans Day this Monday, let's all express our deepest gratitude and thanks. Their sacrifices are the foundation of more than 240 years of American security and progress. Their legacy shows us that no matter what confronts our nation or what adversity we face, there is no challenge we cannot overcome together, and because of their sacrifice and commitment our best days as a nation lie ahead.

Our men and women in uniform teach us duty, strength, enterprise, passion and dedication – the bedrock of a commitment to safeguard and shield – that has kept our nation secure for more than two centuries.

In war and in peace, their service has been selfless and accomplishments singular.

As a grateful nation, it is our solemn duty to make that transition possible — to ensure our returning heroes can share in the opportunities they have fought so hard to protect. The freedoms we hold dear exist and persist because of their commitment, and our nation must work much harder to honor our veterans by fulfilling our promise to them and upholding the sacred bond we share with all Americans' veterans.

On this Veterans Day celebration, we are called to commemorate the boundless burdens that have been endured by so few. We honor our wounded warriors, our missing in action, our fallen, and their families — men and women who have borne the ultimate costs of war and deserve our deepest respect, not just today but every day.