WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA) issued the following statement in honor of Veterans Day:
“On this Veterans Day, tens of thousands of young Americans are serving under difficult circumstances in dangerous places, having answered their country’s call to military duty. I have witnessed this bravery firsthand having returned in August from my second trip to both Iraq and Afghanistan. These troops carry on a tradition of selfless commitment and courage that generations of soldiers before them enshrined on battlefields throughout the world. Many are fortunate to return home to loving families, careers and the gratitude of a nation. Others return with serious injuries and lifelong disabilities. Some will lose their lives, leaving shattered families and communities.
“Veterans Day is a time for reflection and appreciation; a day to openly express the gratitude we feel each day for our bravest citizens. It is a holiday that reminds all Americans that freedom and democracy are sustained by young men and women who volunteer to put themselves in harm’s way. Veterans Day draws proper attention to older citizens who once wore the uniform and carried our nation’s banner in lands and seas far away. It honors those families among us who eat dinner each night at tables with empty chairs left behind by sons and daughters serving abroad.
“We can best honor the spirit of Veterans Day not only by heralding the bravery of our veterans of wars past and present, but by also recommitting ourselves to alleviate the painful effects of their wartime sacrifices. We must all work together to fulfill the unmet needs of our veterans, and truly honor those who have honored us with their service.”
Congressman Schiff is the co-founder of the Democratic Study Group on National Security and a member of both the House Judiciary and International Relations committees. He represents California’s 29th Congressional District, which includes the communities of Alhambra, Altadena, Burbank, East Pasadena, East San Gabriel, Glendale, Monterey Park, Pasadena, San Gabriel, South Pasadena and Temple City.