Tammy Duckworth Honors Her Fellow Veterans On Veterans Day

Today combat Veteran and Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth (IL-08) spoke at the City of Chicago's Veterans Day ceremony at Soldier Field. Her remarks are included below, and photos of the event are available here.

"Thank you so much for having me here with all of you today."

"It's an honor to join these distinguished guests to honor the Veterans who are my life's mission, and it's fitting that we've all gathered here at Soldier Field, named by Gold Star Mothers and dedicated to those who serve and sacrifice in our Armed Forces."

"I'm here today because, twelve years ago tomorrow, my buddies refused to leave me behind. While their own lives were on the line, they carried me, dropped me, picked me back up and kept me alive until I got medical attention. They saved me."

"Every day--and especially today--I think about what each of them did for me, and I think about what I can do to repay them."

"This Veterans Day I hope that we all reflect on the debt that we each owe to those who have served this great nation."

"Whether decades or days ago, each of those brave men and women made sacrifices on behalf of the American people. And their families did too."

"And I hope that we will recommit ourselves to keeping the promises we've made to our troops, our Veterans and their families by supporting them whether they are at home or overseas."

"Not just today, not just tomorrow. Our commitment to our Veterans and their families must be there every single day."

"In a practical sense, that means helping Veterans find good-paying jobs when they return home, it means making sure they can afford higher education and quality housing, it means providing our Veterans with high quality health care, and it means honestly facing the mental health challenges they face, including the epidemic of Veteran suicide."

"I've been honored to work in Congress to address those issues, but there's always so much more that can be done."

"I intend to continue that work for the rest of my life--because I have the rest of my life--because of that day in that field when my buddies wouldn't leave me."

"To each of them, to all of my fellow Veterans, to those still serving and to all of your families, thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you have done. Thank you."

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