To all the men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces, today I thank you.

To the local veteran waving an American flag and standing with the aid of two metal legs, I thank you.

To the men and women who served both in wartime and in peacetime with honor and a sense of duty to country, I thank you.

To my father, who served in the United States Army both stateside and abroad, I thank you.

You, our veterans, come from all walks of life and live among us, often unrecognized. Today, I honor you—America’s heroes. …And not just today. Tomorrow, too.

The mission of Veterans Day according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is “to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.”