“Today, Americans honor the men and women who have served this county in uniform.  Every year at this time, we gather at parks and convention halls to give speeches and issue proclamations.  Our veterans deserve every word of praise, every display of gratitude.

“But as we gather this year—with our troops in harm's way and a new generation of veterans returning to our shores—I am reminded how inadequate our words are, when compared with the actions of our soldiers.

“I can use the word ‘bravery,’ but I cannot convey what it means for an 18-year-old boy to leave his home and his family for an uncertain future in a distant land.  I can talk about "honor," but how can I describe the beauty of men and women willing to live and die for a country and a cause.

“We honor America's veterans with our words.  But words are not enough.  We must also honor them with our deeds.

“Our veterans are owed a debt that can never be repaid.  In Congress, we struggle to ensure that they receive the benefits they have earned.  During this session, we made sure that post-September 11 veterans have access to a four-year college education.  We provided the largest funding increase in the 77-year history of the Veterans Administration.  And we initiated an unprecedented commitment to ensuring that America's veterans have healthcare, housing and financial security when they return home.

“But I recognize that none of this is enough.  America's duty to our veterans cannot be discharged by providing material benefits, no matter how generous.  It is the duty of a lifetime, something to attend to every day.

“Every morning, millions of Americans wake up with scars from battles won and lost.  Every day we cherish the freedom that their sacrifice has purchased.  And every night, we sleep knowing that our security is guaranteed by the finest fighting force the world has ever known.

“We enjoy these benefits every day, and every day we should recognize those who made them possible.

“Every day, we should thank the World War II veteran down the road who, in his youth, vanquished tyranny so that free peoples could live in peace.

“Every day we should honor the Vietnam Veteran next door, who flew half way around the world to risk everything for his country.

“Every day we should applaud the Iraq veteran who dismissed his fears and did his duty.

“And every day we should take a moment to think of the hundreds of thousands of Americans who wake up far from their families, because they signed up to be soldiers, and to go where they are sent.

“Let us honor them with our words and with our deeds.  Let us endeavor to live lives worthy of their sacrifice.  And let us do all we can to make every day Veterans Day.”