Today, November 11, is Veterans Day, the day we Americans set aside to honor all the men and women in uniform who have served and are serving our country. We thank them all for their commitment to our nation's security and freedom.
We show our gratitude, thanks, and appreciation for the many sacrifices our service members make daily to protect our nation at home and abroad. The men and women who serve come from all walks of life and live among us—they are parents, children, grandparents, relatives, friends, neighbors, and coworkers.
November has been designated as National Veterans and Military Families Month, recognizing all the ways families support their service members.
Today, there are an estimated 18 million living Americans who served in at least one war, including more than 1,436,000 living in Texas and 118,000 in Central Texas, in addition to thousands more who serve or have served in the National Guard. Every veteran has contributed to this nation and to the advancement of human freedom. We are proud of them, we respect them, we honor them, and thank them.
Former President Jimmy Carter once said, "We must always remember to honor our veterans, not only with special ceremonies…but also by committing ourselves anew to the task of ensuring that the freedoms they helped to preserve and the nation they fought to defend will be safe and secure for future generations."
Join us in thanking the veterans you know, not only this Veterans Day, and this month, but every day. Those five words—Thank you for your service—will mean so much.