For Immediate Release

Los Angeles, CA

November 11, 2006

Press Contact:

David Sommers

Phone: (213) 974-1095

Fax: (213) 626-6941

DSommers@lacbos.org

Artesia Veterans Day Celebration

Since our nation’s founding, nearly 50 million men and women have served in the Armed Forces of the United States.

About half of them are alive today.
 

Every veteran has contributed greatly to our nation.
 

And to the advancement of liberty and freedom.
 

From the World War I and World War II, to Korea, to Vietnam, to the Persian Gulf and to today’s latest wars on terror in Afghanistan and Iraq,

Every veteran with us today has earned our nation's unwavering gratitude.
 

The military life is built around sacrifice and complete devotion to America.
 

There is nothing they would not give to protect the people of our great country.
 

America’s strength, commitment and courage is found in every member of the U.S. armed forces.
 

The men and women who serve today can know they have the respect of the entire nation.
 

We are a peaceful nation, but we also understand the sacrifices which must be made to ensure our peace and the peace of the entire world.

Freedom comes at a price – and tragically, sometimes that price is the commitment to defend freedom by arms or with life itself.

No matter how painful, America understands its obligations to its citizens and the citizens of the world.
 

America has been and always will be doing its duty – to sacrifice even its own blood so that people may live in freedom.

In 1984, on the fortieth anniversary of D-Day, President Ronald Reagan stood on the palisades above the beaches of Normandy, France – speaking to thousands of American veterans who had flown there for the occasion.

The words our great President shared that day brought many Veterans to tears:
 

“These are the men who took the cliffs.
 

These are the champions who helped free a continent.
 

These are the men who helped win a war.
 

The men of Normandy had faith that what they were doing was right.
 

Faith that they fought for all humanity.
 

Faith that God would grant them mercy on the beachhead that day.”
 

What Reagan reminded us is that America is a beacon of light in a world of darkness – built on a foundation of service by our brave and good veterans.

We will always remember them.
 

We will always be proud.
 

We will always be prepared, so we may always be free.
 

Finally – I want to share a very touching story with you – dedicated to all men and women who have served our nation in uniform.

It is the veteran, not the preacher, who has given is freedom of religion.
 

It is the veteran, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press.
 

It is the veteran, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.
 

It is the veteran, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial.
 

It is the veteran, not the politician, who has given us the right to vote.
 

The freedom and privileges we enjoy are from the service and sacrifice of our veterans.
 

For that, we honor all veterans today.
 

And thank them for their role in building a stronger America.
 

Thank you.
 

God Bless America.
 

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