| Each year on the eleventh day of the eleventh month we gather as a nation and a Commonwealth to commemorate the service and sacrifice of all who have worn a uniform in defense of our great nation. President Eisenhower, in the first Veterans Day Proclamation, noted that Veterans Day was intended to ".help preserve in the hearts and lives of all our citizens the spirit of patriotism, the love of country and the willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good symbolized by." the dedicated service of all Veterans. On this day, we pause to honor and commend those who put their lives on hold and others who made the ultimate sacrifice. On this day, in parades and on stages across the Commonwealth, we have a chance to stand among those whose love and loyalty to a nation should serve as a shining example of citizenship. On this day, we recognize that we owe Veterans a debt we can never fully repay. On this day, let us renew our commitment to Veterans and demonstrate through our actions the appreciation and respect we have for their service and sacrifices. As the nature of war has evolved over the course of our nation's history, so have the needs of those who stand ready to defend our way of life. We must recognize that Veterans do not bear their burdens alone. Their families share in the burdens of war and often are faced with the daunting task of healing scars that linger long after war ends. This Commonwealth will meet the needs of both Veterans and their families. From the earliest days of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, Massachusetts has led by example in ensuring the needs of our Veterans were met and the benefits they earned bestowed. The Legislature of this Commonwealth, under the leadership of President Murray and Speaker DiMasi, has once again committed itself to providing veterans and their families with the benefits they have earned. We will honor our veterans not only with words on the eleventh day of the eleventh month, but by the actions we take each and every day. And so to the over 476,000 Veterans of this Commonwealth, Veterans across the nation and those serving around the world we say thank you and express our praise using the words of Walt Whitman: "The moon gives you light, And the bugles and the drums give you music, And my heart, O my soldier, my veterans, My heart gives you love." Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr. State Representative |
