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California Veterans Deserve Our Thanks
In the Democratic weekly radio address Assemblymember Mary Salas, Chair of the Assembly Veterans Committee, and Assemblymember Lori Saldaña remind everyone to thank a veteran this weekend as the nation marks Veterans Day. In the radio address Assemblymembers Salas says: “Irrespective of our differences on this latest war, we in the California Assembly recognize that the needs of our veterans come first. So as the wars rage overseas, imperiling thousands of American military personnel, I encourage each of you to find at least one veteran and simply say, “Thanks.”
You may listen in English or Spanish.
Here is the transcript:
Hello, this is Assemblymember Mary Salas, chair of the Assembly Veteran’s Committee.
This Monday we celebrate Veteran’s Day.
Many schools and businesses will be closed, and for far too many of us, it will mark the beginning of the holiday shopping season.
But I hope each of you takes at least a moment of your time to reflect and recognize why we set aside this day to honor our country’s veterans.
On November 11th 89 years ago, Germany signed an armistice ending World War I.
Our nation’s leaders hoped it would be “the war to end all wars,” but that was not meant to be.
Since the end of World War I, of the 30,000,000 troops we have sent to war, over 370,000 have been killed in combat in defense of our country.
And since the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan began, nearly 4,000 have lost their lives.
Indeed, with over 410 Californians killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, our state lost more brave men and women than any other in the union.
So today we must remember the heroic soldiers we’ve lost.
But just as importantly, we must recognize the many more returning veterans -- friends, family, and neighbors -- who risked everything so we didn’t have to.
As they do their best to protect us and improve the lives of people overseas, it is incumbent upon us to ensure that when they return, they are provided access to a good education and world class health care.
Irrespective of our differences on this latest war, we in the California Assembly recognize that the needs of our veterans come first.
And we should recognize our state’s National Guard reserves, many of which have found themselves unexpectedly fighting side-by-side with our active personnel.
In these times, there are no part-time soldiers.
So as the wars rage overseas, imperiling thousands of American military personnel, I encourage each of you to find at least one veteran and simply say, “Thanks.”
This has been Assemblymember Mary Salas. Thanks for listening.
Spanish:
Qué tal, les habla la asambleísta Lori Saldaña.
El próximo lunes celebramos el Día de los Veteranos de Guerra.
Muchas escuelas y comercios estarán cerrados, y para muchos de nosotros, será el comienzo de la época de compras de navidad.
Pero espero que usted se tome un momento para reflexionar y reconocer del porqué hemos dedicado un día del año para honrar a nuestros veteranos de guerra de nuestra nación.
Hace 89 años un 11 de noviembre, Alemania firmó el armisticio que finalizó la Primera Guerra Mundial.
Nuestros lideres nacionales tenían la esperanza de que esta sería “la Guerra que terminó con todas las guerras,” pero eso no es lo que sucedió.
Desde que finalizó la Primera Guerra Mundial, de los 30, 000,000 de soldados que hemos mandado a la guerra, más de 370,000 han muerto en combate en defensa de nuestra nación.
Y desde que comenzaron las guerras en Irak y Afganistán, casi 4,000 han perdido sus vidas.
De hecho, con mas de 410 californianos muertos en Irak y Afganistán, nuestro estado es el estado que ha tenidos mas bajas de hombres y mujeres valientes que ningún otro estado de la nación.
Entonces hoy mas que nunca debemos honrar a nuestros heroicos soldados que hemos perdido.
Pero de igual importancia, es el reconocer que muchos más veteranos están de vuelta – nuestros amigos, familiares, y vecinos – que arriesgaron todo para que nosotros no tuviéramos que hacerlo.
Así como ellos dan lo mejor para protegernos y mejorar la vida de muchas personas que viven en otras latitudes, es también de nuestra incumbencia que cuando vuelven, ellos tengan el acceso a una buena educación y un cuidado médico de primera calidad.
Independiente de nuestras diferencias políticas sobre esta última guerra, nosotros en la Asamblea de California estamos concientes que las necesidades de nuestros veteranos están primero.
También debemos darle un reconocimiento a nuestra reserva de la Guardia Nacional, los cuales muchos de ellos se encuentran inesperadamente luchando hombro a hombro con el personal activo.
En estos tiempos, no existen los soldados de tiempo parcial.
Así como las guerras arden en otras latitudes, y miles de soldados arriesgan sus vidas, le animo a buscar por lo menos a un veterano de guerra y simplemente dígale, “gracias.”
Gracias por su atención. Les habló la asambleísta Lori Saldaña.
Comments
Veterans come first! Absolutely!!
Posted by: Vigilante at November 10, 2007 03:53 PM
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