VETERANS DAY: PUTTING OUR TROOPS AND VETERANS FIRST

Every Veterans Day, Americans come together to remember those who have served our country around the world in the name of freedom and democracy.

The debt that we owe to them is immeasurable. Their sacrifices, and those of their families, are freedom’s foundation. Without the brave efforts of all the soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen and their families, our country would not live so freely.

On this Veterans Day — Sunday, Nov. 11 — we continue to have combat troops deployed in Afghanistan. The President is keeping his commitment to end the American war in Iraq and winding down the war in Afghanistan by the end of 2014.

This honors the remarkable sacrifice and service of our men and women in uniform over the last decade, while giving Iraq and Afghanistan the best opportunity to build a prosperous and democratic future.

Now, more than ever, we renew our commitment to keep our promises to the nation’s more than 2 million troops and reservists, their families, and 23 million veterans, including more than 770,000 here in Georgia and more than 50,000 in the Fourth District.

As part of keeping our promises to our veterans, the President and Congress are focused on taking major steps to help our men and women in uniform obtain good jobs when they come home. With one-in-five young returning veterans (between the ages of 18 and 24) from Iraq and Afghanistan looking for work, we have an obligation to make sure our veterans have the necessary tools to navigate this difficult labor market and succeed in the civilian workforce.

I was pleased to join DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis and the DeKalb Veterans Advisory Board for their Veterans Day program on Nov. 8. It was an honor meeting with so many brave men and women who have served our country, and I was pleased to hear from guest speaker Col. (Brigadier General-select) Brent E. Bracewell.

Veterans have served us faithfully, and it is our responsibility to give them the support they need to rebuild their lives. That starts with helping them find work. President Obama is committed to providing veterans with new training opportunities to transition their job and employment skills. There’s not much we do in Washington and in our constituent services at home more important than serving our veterans.

We owe the men and women who serve our country, and the families that sacrifice to support them, our thanks and dedication.

Veterans Events in the Fourth District this weekend

Gwinnett County: Veterans Day Ceremony on Sunday, November 11 at 1:30 p.m. at the Fallen Heroes Memorial in Lawrenceville.

Rockdale County: Conyers First Baptist Church on Sunday, Nov. 11 at the 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. services.

As always, I appreciate your time and feedback. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to represent you in Congress.