Congressman Rick Larsen's Online Office

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) delivered the keynote address at Naval Station Everett’s Veterans Day ceremony on Friday, November 7.  Below are Larsen’s Veterans Day remarks as prepared for delivery.

“Thank you for the introduction, Captain Mascolo.  I appreciate having the opportunity to speak here today.

“On November 11th, 1918, German and Allied forces signed an Armistice to end World War I.  The following year, President Wilson declared November 11th as “Armistice Day”.

“In the years after the end of World War I, many believed that this conflict had been the “War to End All Wars.”  While that hope did not come to pass, Armistice Day became more than a day to commemorate the end of a conflict. It came to embody our country’s hope for peace, a day dedicated (to quote the Congressional Resolution creating it) to “the cause of world peace”.

“In 1954, Congress renamed Armistice Day “Veterans Day” to recognize the sacrifices made by all our country’s veterans, not just those who served in World War I.

“Ninety years after the signing of the Armistice, we are still working to realize our hope for peace, and we are still working to honor our commitment to veterans.

“From the beaches of Normandy to the sands of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan, those serving our country in uniform have overcome and continue to overcome tremendous adversity to fulfill their missions. 

“And the men and women who served our military in peacetime have protected us from attack, maintained peace, and prepared our country to respond to any threat that we face.

“Our nation owes all veterans and service members a tremendous debt of gratitude for their service and sacrifice. 

“In the last Congress, we took several steps to improve care and benefits for veterans – and in the next Congress we are going to continue this work.

“Here in Northwest Washington we have a large veterans community.  Many of these veterans have had to travel up to two hours each way to get the basic healthcare they need at the Seattle VA.  As you know, many veterans in our community have worked to bring a Community Based Outpatient Clinic to Northwest Washington.

“This has been a long, hard process – but we have almost reached the finish line.

“Many of you have seen the permanent site for the new CBOC in Mount Vernon.  It is a going to be a large, beautiful facility that will meet the needs of 2nd District veterans who need outpatient care. 

“Currently, a temporary CBOC is up and running in Sedro-Woolley. The VA’s plan is for the permanent CBOC to open late spring or early summer of next year, and I will keep working to make sure that happens.

“Congress passed and the President signed into a law a New GI Bill to help veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan get the education and the skills they need to compete in a 21st Century economy. 

“With the cost of college skyrocketing, many vets have been unable to get a 4-year degree with their GI benefits.  This new GI Bill – a GI Bill for the 21st Century – will give veterans an educational benefit equal to the most expensive public college in their state.  The VA is now working to implement the GI Bill so veterans can start using the benefits in the 2009 school year.

“We also need to invest in the VA to ensure that it has the resources it needs to deal with the unique needs of younger veterans of our conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

“The VA must be fully equipped and prepared to diagnose and treat the signature injury of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan – Traumatic Brain Injury, or TBI. 

“Our support system for veterans must be focused on the mental health problems, such as PTSD, associated with the stress of multiple deployments to combat zones.  Vet Centers in Bellingham and Everett provide outstanding counseling services for veterans in Northwest Washington, and we need to make sure that these types of services are well-supported by Congress.

“And the VA must be prepared to treat the record numbers of women who are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. As the number of women served by the VA doubles in the coming years, we must do a better job providing services for female veterans. We must ensure that woman have equal access to VA benefits and services, and that the VA is ready and able to meet their needs.

“Over the course of the last few months, we’ve heard a lot of one “C-word” – Change.  I want to talk about another C-word – Commitment – specifically, the continuing commitment to a strong military.

“On November 11th, at 11 a.m., much of the world will pause for a moment of silence to commemorate the signing of the Armistice which brought World War I to a close 90 years ago.  In the coming years, we may not ever have the opportunity to observe a moment of silence to commemorate the end of the fight against terrorists.

“But we need to stay committed to keeping America safe by engaging in aggressive diplomacy, pushing for greater international cooperation, and maintaining a strong military force that is ready to kick down the door when necessary.

“To do that, we need to uphold our commitment to investing in both military equipment and our service members.  Defense planners in the Pentagon and Congress must work together to ensure that our military has the right resources to respond to the threats we face.

“The Navy and Congress need to stay committed to reaching the goal of a 313-ship Navy.  A strong Navy will allow us to protect vital sea-lanes, combat piracy, and show our allies and foes alike that the United States is strong and capable of intervening, if necessary, at any time and place on earth.

“We also need a firm commitment to our allies that we will work with them to train and equip their military forces.  It is in our national security interest to have partners around the globe with the capacity to combat terrorists and insurgents.

“And we need to sustain our commitment to our men and women in uniform to improve retention and attract potential recruits.

“I am encouraged by the current Administration’s commitment to ensure a seamless and efficient transition to the next Administration, the first Presidential transition in 40 years which occurs in a time of enduring conflict.

“Of the millions of men and women who served in World War I, the conflict from which Veterans Day was created, only one, Frank Woodruff Buckles of Missouri, is still alive.  When asked how he’s been able to live to the ripe age of 107, Mr. Buckles replied, “Hope”.

“The sacrifices made by our veterans have helped to keep us free, and to keep us hopeful about our country’s future and the possibility of peace in the world.

“As a country, we must repay the debt we owe our veterans by bringing health care closer to our veterans, strengthening the Veterans Administration and veterans benefits for the 21st century, and strengthening our military to prepare for 21st century threats.

“On Veterans Day, our community and our country speak with one voice, thanking our veterans for their service and sacrifice.

“To all the veterans here today and around our country, thank you.  To everyone who continues to serve in the military, thank you.  And to all the military families who make their service possible, thank you.”