This Veterans Day, we honor the generations of people who have served and sacrificed - not for a person or a place, but for an idea unlike any other: the idea of the United States of America. For 250 years, our veterans have defended the values that make us strong so that our Nation could stand as a citadel of liberty, a beacon of freedom, and a wellspring of possibilities. The men of Omega have been part of this noble cause since we were allowed to be part of the military infrastructure of the United States.
Today, we give thought to all our Nation’s veterans and active-duty personnel who put their lives on the line to protect our democracy, values, and freedom around the world. We honor our wounded warriors, who are bound by a common sense of duty, courage, and optimism, and we remember those who are still missing in action or prisoners of war. We honor the memories of those who lost their lives in pursuit of the same as they lost two lives, the one they lived and the one they could have lived. Our military families, caregivers, and survivors also answered the call to serve.
As we mark the 50th anniversary of an all-volunteer force and the 75th anniversary of the desegregation of the troops, we must commit to supporting everyone who serves in our Armed Forces. Our brothers and their families have given so much to our Nation, and we owe them a debt we can never fully repay. If it were not for the signing of Executive Order 9981, we, as Black people, would not have been able to attain the success in the military we have earned.
The Veterans Affairs Committee encourages all brothers to pause and recognize the valor, courage, and sacrifice of Omega Men through appropriate ceremonies and private prayers and by observing two minutes of silence for our Nation’s veterans.
May God continue to bless America, and may we as brothers continue to recognize the importance of our military, retired and active duty, who continue to allow us to live in the land of the free…because of the brave.