“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” –

President John F. Kennedy, November 5, 1963

Having served on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee while in Congress, and being the daughter of an Air Force Veteran and sister to a retired Marine Corps Colonel, I often think about the importance of paying tribute to our country’s men and women in uniform. Today is Veterans Day. It is the day we as a nation say thank you to the men and women who have served in our country’s armed forces, both at home and abroad.

The United States is the greatest nation in the history of the world because brave men and women have served and sacrificed for the cause of freedom. We must never forget nor take their service for granted. For we civilians, there is no greater duty than to honor those who serve or have served and we must do every day, not just on the holidays. And we must do so not only with parades, speeches, days off, or even blog posts, but by ensuring that our country’s military and veterans, as well as their families, have the care and resources they need.

Countless men and women have served our nation and deserve our gratitude. I especially want to thank the veterans who work at CPSC. There are too many of you to thank by name, but know how grateful and appreciative we are for your service and your sacrifice, as well as your familyies’.

May God bless our veterans, our military, all of their families, and may God bless the United States of America