At Chicago Memorial Day Ceremony, Tammy Duckworth Pays Tribute To Our Nation's Fallen

Press Release

Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth (IL-08), a combat Veteran who lost her legs serving in Iraq and still receives her healthcare at the Hines VA Hospital, today joined several elected officials from both parties, servicemembers, Veterans and Gold Star families at Chicago's Memorial Day Wreath Laying Ceremony at Daley Plaza to pay tribute to those who laid down their lives defending our nation. Following this morning's ceremony, Duckworth also participated in the Chicago Memorial Day Parade and issued the following statement:

"Memorial Day offers us a somber reminder of war's true cost. It is a time for Americans to come together and honor our fallen. It is a time for us to remember that wars are not fought by faceless, nameless troops. They are fought by our neighbors, friends, brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers--and they leave behind grieving families deserving our respect and support."

"It's not enough to reflect for a few days each year on the memories of those brave men and women who laid down their lives for our country. While we can never fully repay the debt owed, we must honor their sacrifices by never letting up in our work to support our Veterans, servicemembers and their families. We have to continue striving, just as President Lincoln did, to "care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan.'"

"That means working to eliminate Veteran homelessness because we are all dishonored when our Veterans have to lay their heads down to sleep on the same streets they defended. It means ensuring our Veterans receive the care they've earned--that we promised them--without delay. It also means Congress never putting servicemembers in harm's way without understanding the very real and very human costs of doing so. And if Congress does send them into danger, it means standing with them and doing everything we can to provide for their needs as they fight our nation's battles."

"Make no mistake, we've got a lot to do to make those goals a reality. So let's get back to work upholding our nation's commitments to our troops, our Veterans and their families--and never let down those who gave the last full measure of devotion to make the American way of life possible."

Source