Sen. Cruz Pays Tribute to our Nation's Fallen Service Men and Women - Transcript

Statement

Hi, I'm Ted Cruz.

I hope y'all will join me in remembering our nation's fallen military men and servicewomen this Memorial Day.

Every day we live in freedom is a day purchased with their sacrifice and their blood.

As Charles M. Province so eloquently put it:

"It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us the freedom of the press.

"It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us the freedom of speech.

"It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.

"It is the soldier, who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag."

Like thousands of Americans before us, our brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters have courageously fought to protect our freedoms.

Each of our hometowns has a hero--someone who has left the safe confines of their community to put on a military uniform and go to some far-off land to keep us safe.

Many of them came forward after our homeland was so tragically attacked on 9/11 and said, "I will put my life in danger so that others do not have to."

They all knew the risk they were taking and chose to do it anyway. For us.

Honor them today. And, pray for comfort for their families who grieve for their loss. For those who have been lost fighting for our country.

We will never be able to express enough thanks for their sacrifice. But, we can promise that their sacrifice will never, ever be forgotten.

Thank you for listening. And God bless all of you.

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