I recently attended the wedding of one of my nephews in Bowling Green. As you enter the church, a brass plaque is prominently displayed with the names of 69 men who paid the highest and ultimate sacrifice in service to their country during the First and Second World Wars.
Testaments like these can be found across our nation, from courthouses to statehouses to congressional office buildings. We must never forget those who have answered freedom’s call, from our nation’s infancy at Lexington Green in 1775 to those who now serve in Afghanistan and other posts around the world.
Where would we be as a nation if we didn’t have our men and women in uniform? There are those in the world who hate the very foundations on which our nation was dedicated and founded.
Totalitarianism, dictatorship and censorship are means of controlling the people they rule. In the United States, we have a Constitution that includes a Bill of Rights that guarantees the blessings of liberty, which are admired by many oppressed people around the globe who see this nation as a shining city on a hill and a beacon that lights the night.
As a grateful nation, we should never fail to thank those who are now serving or have served. I have the privilege of being invited to ceremonies where Reserve and National Guard units are being called into active service. It never ceases to impress me when these men and women march into the hall to the cheers and applause of their families,
friends and employers.
These are volunteers. No one is forcing them to be there. The decision is their own. Families, friends, schooling and occupations are left behind for long periods of time. Many are on their third, fourth and fifth deployments. These are truly unique individuals. We
are blessed to have them in uniform.
All must be done to help them while they are away and when they return. Congress and state legislatures have acted, but constant review is needed.
For many, coming home is a challenge. I have the greatest honor at the Capitol when I meet and share a meal with our wounded warriors. Many have suffered horrible wounds that will be with them for the rest of their lives.
Let’s not forget them when they go through their grueling rehabilitation and when they are finally able to come home. Support also needs to be given to their families as well. We must always keep them in our thoughts and prayers.
This is truly a blessed nation. In the end, we owe an eternal debt of gratitude to these men and women, past andpresent, who have answered the call and served. If one were to reflect on this, where would we be as a nation without them? Would we even be a nation as we know it today?
Let’s always give honor to those who are serving or have served. Let’s remember those with lifelong injuries and the struggles they and their families must face every day. When you see a member of the armed forces or a veteran, go up to them and say thank you.
Rep. Bob Latta, a Republican, is the U.S. Representative for
Ohio’s 5th Congressional District.
