Murkowski Honors Our Veterans
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) shared the following message with Alaskans on Veterans Day:
“Veterans Day originated as “Armistice Day” on November 11th, 1919, the first anniversary marking the end of World War I. Congress passed a resolution in 1926 for an annual observance, and November 11th became a national holiday beginning in 1938. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation in 1954 to change the name to Veterans Day.
“This day is an opportunity to honor Americans who have answered the call to serve, whether in times of peace or in times of war. They have sacrificed their safety, their time, and so much more in the name of America’s freedom and protection.
“An estimated 70,000 veterans live among us in Alaska, more veterans per capita than any other state. But these numbers are not just statistics. They are our friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors. They are stories of commitment, courage, strength, and perseverance. Today we honor them for their devotion to duty-- to our state and to our great nation.
“And let us not only offer the appreciation of a grateful nation to our veterans, but also to their families, as we know their lives have been deeply impacted by the duty of their loved ones.
“My thoughts and prayers are with those who have fought and served honorably. They have served with great devotion and follow a great tradition, the legacy left to them by a long line of brave veterans in our nation’s history. We owe each of them a sincere thank you for the lives we live today.
“But our thanks and honor cannot be limited to just one day. We should always remember to voice the gratefulness we have for the freedoms and liberties that our military has secured for us and continues to protect. Words will always fall short of expressing our appreciation, but on this Veterans Day, we say thank you to those who serve-- past, present, and future. God bless.”
