Veterans' Day, November 11, is a time for our nation to come together to remember and honor the millions of brave men and women who have served our country in uniform.

On this day, as on every other day, we must never forget that human freedom remains America's first principle and the ultimate source of our strength.

Freedom is not free -- and no one has paid a higher price or sacrificed more for our freedom than our service men and women.

Without the valiant service of our military and their families - America would not stand as a beacon of hope, opportunity and freedom around the world.

Today, many of us have family members and friends in uniform. Those whom we love are being called to risk their lives in distant lands.

American men and women in the military services customarily state that they are proud to serve, proud to answer the nation's call, and twenty-four year old Curtis Letterlough is no exception.

The Baltimore native made the decision to serve his country early in life while he was still a student at Walbrook High School in Baltimore.

After being a member of JROTC for four years, Specialist Letterlough decided to join the Army. He wanted to further develop his skills as a light wheel auto mechanic and to do something of which he and his family could be proud.

Curtis Letterlough knew that the streets of the inner-city could lure him down the wrong path, and he was determined to make a better future for himself.

The Army changed his life.

After seven years of service that included one year in Kuwait and two years in Iraq, Curtis says the Army showed him what he was made of and taught him how to be a man.

He gained independence and a sense of responsibility -- and from the daily devastation and uncertainties inherent in war, he learned the true value of freedom.

Had he not gone to Iraq, he says he never would have fully appreciated the U.S. Constitution and the liberties that it guarantees.

Throughout all the turmoil of war, Curtis did not regret one day of his service to our country. What he did not expect, however, was that his life back at home as a veteran would be so difficult.

Even with his skills and experience, it took this veteran more than a year to find gainful employment - and the search for affordable housing was just as difficult.

Many of our veterans, upon returning home from war, are faced with comparable difficulties during their transition back into our communities.

They have compelling needs, such as access to affordable healthcare, housing and the other benefits they have earned.

And with the war in Iraq projected to continue for the next five to ten years, those needs will increase dramatically.

We must ensure that the men and women who risk their lives to serve and protect us are provided with the veterans' benefits that they were promised. That is why I cosponsored the comprehensive New GI Bill of Rights for the 21st Century.

In 1944, Congress enacted the original GI Bill of Rights to honor and partially repay the "Greatest Generation." Our returning troops received educational benefits, loans to buy a home, and medical care.

As a result of each major military conflict since WWII, we have improved the GI bill. Now is the time for the U.S. government to again fulfill our moral obligation to those who have fought for freedom and democracy.

The New GI Bill of Rights for the 21st Century would strengthen GI benefits for our men and women in uniform today and provide more comprehensive benefits for many who have already served.

It honors our commitment to our nation's veterans by providing access to educational opportunity and focusing on improving veterans' health care, including mental health care.

This initiative to improve veterans' health care is critical because - shamefully - our veterans continue to face serious obstacles obtaining the quality health care they were promised.

Consider this. President Bush has proposed to nearly double pharmacy co-pays for military families, and, since January 2003, the Bush Administration has entirely shut out more than 270,000 veterans (many of them combat decorated) from the VA health care system.

With the growing numbers of returning service members from Iraq and Afghanistan, this health care crisis can only get worse. In 2006 alone, the Department of Veterans Affairs expects to treat 5.2 million veterans - double the number treated ten years ago.

Our troops, veterans and the families of those who have given their lives in defense of our country deserve the gratitude, respect and support of the American people and their government.

For that reason, it is imperative that the New GI Bill of Rights be passed - and that we make it a priority to meet the needs of returning veterans.

Our military makes a pledge to leave no soldier behind on the battlefield. As a nation, let our pledge be that we will leave no veteran behind when they return home.

Men like Curtis who have given their sweat and the strength of their youth to our defense need us to come to their defense merely by fulfilling our promises.

We should give veterans like Specialist Curtis Letterlough our thanks -- and their due.