November 9 Veterans Day Ceremony

Joliet, IL, Nov 9 -  

Veterans Day is an opportunity to do take the important action of honoring the men and women who have served our country by putting a uniform of the United States military.

Originally known as Armistice Day, President Woodrow Wilson established this day as a time to remember the sacrifices of our military personnel in World War I. The day marked the time that hostilities officially ended: the 11^th hour of the 11^th day of the 11^th Month.

Veterans Day now marks the culmination of Veterans Awareness Week. In this week, we honor the sacrifices and valor of those who serve in our armed forces. We honor veterans who put themselves in harm’s way to protect our country and our liberties and freedoms. Sometimes it is all too easy to take for granted our freedoms as we go about our daily lives. We must not forget those freedoms are defended by our military.

We honor our heroes who have given the ultimate sacrifice by laying down their lives when called upon for duty in our armed forces. Five constituents of our congressional district have died in Iraq serving our country. Their ultimate sacrifice will not be forgotten.

To properly pay respect to these fallen heroes, Congress passed into law our legislation making it possible to create the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery from the former Joliet Arsenal. Thanks to the leadership and volunteerism of our local veterans, we worked together to create that special place to honor and forever remember those who sacrificed for our nation’s freedom.

Today we also honor those veterans who came home and those future veterans who are currently serving in our armed forces. Hundreds of thousands of military personnel go about their task every day without complaint, often far from their families and in hostile conditions. Their service keeps us free and defends our nation.

Their families make the sacrifice too. Spouses, children, parents, brothers and sisters – with their prayers, letters and packages – stand solidly behind their family members. How many of us have watched the tearful goodbye of a mother to her son or daughter in uniform at the airport, train, or bus station? We must also honor those waiting at home.

Today we join in thought and prayer for our fallen military men and women who have gone before us and those who serve today. America is a special place made possible by our veterans and military.

God bless our veterans and military men and women. God bless those who have fallen protecting our freedoms. And my God continue to bless America.