| Speech by Governor Ted Kulongoski |
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| November 11, 2004 |
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Veteran's Day Speech
REMARKS BY GOVERNOR TED KULONGOSKI
Thursday, November 11, 2004
This morning, many Oregonians awoke to read their newspaper. Over the weekend, many Oregonians attended their churches or other houses of worship. And last Tuesday, Oregonians cast their votes to determine who would represent them to make decisions about our communities, our state and our nation.
These things represent our rights as US citizens. The freedom of the press, the freedom of religion and the right to vote. These are freedoms that are granted to us by the Constitution of the United States. And they are freedoms that are protected every day by the men and women who courageously serve in our armed forces.
But, as we all know, freedom does not come free. There is a price that we pay for our freedom. We are gathered here today to pay tribute to the millions of brave Americans who have answered the call of duty, who have stepped up and paid that price. Many have died defending our freedom. They have paid the ultimate price. Many have suffered debilitating physical and mental injuries in defense of freedom. We owe them more than we can ever give them for their sacrifice.
Each of those men and women left their homes and their loved ones. Many of them put their careers and their educations on hold. They endured tremendous hardships, were placed in the most inhospitable places, and placed their lives in harms way – all in the name of freedom.
Now let me ask you. How do you adequately thank someone for such a tremendous sacrifice? Allow me to answer that question in three ways.
The first way our society honors these brave Americans is by providing benefits and programs through the Federal and State Department of Veterans Affairs. Believe me - they have earned whatever we are able to provide to them. But despite many good programs, there is one sticking point. It’s hard for veterans to go back to school, buy homes, or provide for their families if they are unemployed.
We have about 376,000 veterans in Oregon today, some of whom do not have a job, despite their outstanding skills and experience.
In addition, there are currently many Oregon men and women serving in harm’s way in the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Some have already returned and others will soon be returning home as veterans.
You can bet that one of the first things on their mind will be the need to return to work. I remember when I came home after serving in the Marine Corps. While I was happy to be home again, and glad to be a civilian once more, there was one overriding question in my mind: “What am I going to do? Where am I going to find a job?”
That is the second way we can thank those veterans who have interrupted their lives and often suffered physical or emotional injury in defense of our freedom - we can see to it that when they return home, they are welcomed, they are respected, and they are employed.
I have signed a proclamation proclaiming November to be “Hire a Veteran Month” in Oregon.
I am encouraging employers statewide to hire as many veterans as possible, not only during this month, but as a long-term matter of policy.
When leaving military service, having a job can make all the difference for veterans and their families. So, if you are an employer, take part in “Hire a Veteran Month.” Hire a veteran this month, next month, or whenever you have the opportunity. If you have employees who are called to active duty, make sure their jobs are waiting for them when they return. Let that be your thanks for their service.
There is a final way to thank a Veteran. It is simple. It doesn’t involve special programs, or parades or grand anouncements. Simply offer them your hand and thank them for their service. It is the best way for you to let them know, that you recognize what things they have done and that their sacrifices have not been forgotten.
In closing, let me express my appreciation to all veterans on this Veterans Day.
As we can probably all agree - as long as there are men and women who are willing to stand up and serve, we must always be willing to stand up and honor their service.
Today, we thank all of our generations of veterans – veterans who have fought to keep freedom safe in America, and veterans who have fought to extend that freedom around the world.
We thank those who are serving now and we look forward to their safe return. We also thank the families of veterans – you are not recognized nearly enough for the hardships you endure. I know it is incredibly difficult to have your child, or parent, or spouse away from home and serving in harms’ way. You too are making sacrifices in the name of freedom and I want to thank you for your courage.
As long as our country stands, we know that our young men and women will be called to take up arms to protect us.
Although Veterans’ Day is a special time to honor their courage, it only happens once a year – I hope each of us will hold our nation’s veterans in our hearts and our spirits every day, 365 days a year. And as we look to the future, let us renew our commitment that we will never forget their sacrifice, that we will never make little of their effort and that we will always be here to support them when they return.
Thank you and God Bless America.
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