THIS IS A PROUD DAY FOR AMERICANS, OUR 'VETERANS DAY' CELEBRATION WHEN FLAGS 'STAND AT ATTENTION' IN SALUTE PERCHED ON THOUSANDS OF HOMELAND FRONT PORCHES. VETERANS GATHER IN UNISON TO TRADE OLD WAR STORIES AND MANY WITH THEIR FAMILIES GATHER IN SILENCE TO HONOR THOSE WHO HAVE MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE FOR THIS COUNTRY. THE PRESIDENT AND FIRST LADY ARE HOSTING A 'VETERANS DAY' BREAKFAST AT THE WHITEHOUSE AND LATER THEY WILL REPEAT THE TRADITIONAL CEREMONIAL STEPS IN MEMORY OF THE BRAVE ONES AT THE TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER IN ARLINGTON CEMETERY.
IT WAS JUST YESTERDAY THAT THE PRESIDENT PAID FINAL TRIBUTE TO THOSE WHO HAVE SUFFERED AND FALLEN FROM THE SHOOTING MASSACRE IN FORT HOOD, TEXAS. THESE ARE DIFFICULT DAYS FOR ALL OF US, MIXED WITH REMEMBRANCE AND THIS MOST RECENT TRAUMA. THESE ARE THE DAYS FOR THIS PRESIDENT WHEN COMPASSION TRULY TUGS AT THE SOUL AND GRASPING FOR JUST THE RIGHT WORDS TO COMFORT IS DIFFICULT. OUR EXISTENCE SEEMS TO BE INSIGNIFICANT WHEN WE LOOK AT THESE SOLDIERS, THEIR STORIES AND THE SACRIFICES EACH HAS MADE.
THIS IS ALSO A DAY WHEN THE PRESIDENT WILL BE MEETING WITH HIS NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISORS BECAUSE THE SUBJECT OF PRESENT WAR INVOLVEMENT REMAINS A CHALLENGE ON HIS AGENDA. THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN CRITICIZED FOR TAKING HIS TIME TO DECIDE ON THE FURTHER STRATEGY NEEDED IN AFGHANISTAN. THOSE WHO CRITICIZE THIS PRESIDENT HAVE NOT WALKED IN HIS SHOES.
THE DECISION REGARDING STRATEGY IN THIS WAR IS A HORRENDOUS RESPONSIBILITY. THIS IS A DECISION HE WILL HAVE TO LIVE WITH. THIS IS SUCH A BURDEN, CALLING OUT THE COMMANDS THAT MAY SEND YOUR SONS OR DAUGHTERS INTO HARM'S WAY. WE ARE BLESSED WITH A PRESIDENT WHO IS WEIGHING ALL THE OPTIONS AND ALL MILITARY INPUT BEFORE REACHING A FINAL DECISION. CONSIDERING OUR PAST HISTORY AND A PROVEN RUSH TO JUDGEMENT IN IRAQ, THE INTELLIGENCE OF A THOUGHT PROVOKING PRESIDENT IS GREATLY APPRECIATED AND CERTAINLY ADMIRABLE.
TODAY OUR VETERANS FACE A DIFFERENT KIND OF WAR. AS THE PRESIDENT MENTIONED YESTERDAY, TERRORISM KNOWS NO BOUNDARIES. THERE ARE NO SET LIMITS,COMPLACENCY IS OUR ENEMY AND WE MUST REMAIN VIGILANT. THROUGH IT ALL, WE MUST HOLD ONTO THIS PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE OF 'HOPE' AND HIS CALL TO MOVE FORWARD. A STRONG COUNTRY CAN ONLY BE DESTROYED FROM DIVISION WITHIN ITS BORDERS. WE CANNOT ALLOW FEAR OR SELECTIVE ETHNIC ACCUSATIONS TO OVERRIDE THE CORE VALUES IN THIS COUNTRY.
WE HAVE A STATUS OF RESPECT TO UPHOLD AS AMERICANS IN ORDER TO REMAIN A ROLE MODEL THAT STANDS FOR FREEDOM,JUSTICE AND HUMANITARIAN EQUALITY. THE WORLD LOOKS AT US. THEY WATCH OUR REACTIONS. THIS PRESIDENT HAS RESTORED OUR REPUTATION IN THE WORLD OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS. WE DO NOT NEED TO WALK BEHIND HIM AND DESTROY ALL THAT HE HAS WORKED FOR.
DESPITE THE FACT THAT HE IS HUMBLE ABOUT RECEIVING THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE...HE DESERVES EVERY FRAGMANT OF HONOR IT CONTAINS. HE HAS CROSSED THE LINE SEVERAL TIMES TO MEET WITH THOSE CONSIDERED TO BE ENEMIES. HE DOES SO WITH HIS HEAD HELD HIGH,AN UNCLENCHED FIST AND A PERSISTENT INVITATION TO UNITE AT A PEACE TABLE. THIS TAKES AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF COURAGE AND PERSEVERANCE. THIS IS OUR PRESIDENT, THE TRUE MEASURE OF A MAN I HAVE ENTRUSTED WITH THE FUTURES OF MY CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THE 'VETERANS DAY' CEREMONY TODAY AT ARLINGTON CEMETERY. THESE EPITAPHS, THESE FINAL RESTING PLACES ARE WHAT MATTER MOST TODAY. THIS IS WHERE OUR FOREFATHERS GATHER JOINED BY CONTINUED WAR AND SACRIFICE. THIS IS WHERE FAMILIES ARRIVE ON BENDED KNEE,CLINGING TO THE MEMORIES LEFT BEHIND IN THE AMERICAN SOIL OUR VETERANS HAVE PLEDGED TO PROTECT. THIS IS WHERE VALOR LIES WITH STONE MONUMENTS THAT REACH TO THE SUN IN THE CONSTANT SEARCH FOR 'PEACE' IN THIS WORLD. GOD KNOWS WHO THEY ARE. HE KNOWS WHAT THEY HAVE GIVEN...SO DOES THE PRESIDENT.
MAY GOD DEEPLY BLESS OUR VETERANS NOT JUST TODAY,BUT EVERY DAY,EVERY HOUR,EVERY MINUTE,EVERY SECOND OF THEIR LIVES THEY HAVE DEDICATED TO PROTECT THIS UNITED STATES OF AMERICA! MAY GOD DEEPLY BLESS PRESIDENT BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA AS HE WEEPS FROM HIS SOUL WITH THEM TODAY. MAY GOD DEEPLY BLESS THE RED,WHITE AND BLUE, THESE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!
