amflag

Share This Page Slashdot Del.icio.us Google Digg Reddit Newsvine Furl Yahoo Facebook

Washington, May 28 - By Iowa Congressman Tom Latham
Iowa’s 4th Congressional District

I had the opportunity and the honor this week to greet a group of World War II veterans who had made the journey to Washington, D.C., as part of an honor flight to view the World War II Memorial on the National Mall.  The veterans, who had come from Iowa and Illinois, filed out of their tour bus and made their way through the heat and humidity to the memorial, which features individual pillars to represent each state and territory surrounding a massive water fountain.  The memorial is a moving tribute to the men and women of the Greatest Generation, who fought tyranny and oppression in the name of justice and freedom.

For the veterans who took part in the honor flight, many of them in their 80s, the flights to and from Washington and the long day of touring the memorial took a physical toll.  But the veterans made it clear they weren’t about to back down from a challenge.  They didn’t during the war, and they didn’t during the honor flight.  As the veterans moved toward the memorial – some of them walking, others in wheelchairs – a class of middle school students gathered along the sidewalk and applauded.

It was a moving scene that I’ll carry with me for a long time.

This Memorial Day weekend, I urge everyone to take a moment to thank the veterans in our communities.  We all know someone – a relative, a friend or a neighbor – who wore the uniform and served our country in a time of war.  Please find a way to let them know that you appreciate their service and sacrifice.

It’s just as important to keep those who are currently serving in the armed forces in our thoughts and prayers.  They, along with their families, sacrifice and endure so much hardship so that the rest of us can enjoy the freedoms, rights and liberties we hold dear.  Memorial Day is the perfect opportunity to express our gratitude to these heroes and patriots.  To our veterans and to those who currently wear the uniform, thank you for your selfless commitment to our nation.