05.30.11

Hoeven Marks Sacrifices, Service Of Military On Memorial Day

BISMARCK, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven delivered the following remarks at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery in Mandan today in honor of our fallen military heroes. He spoke earlier at the North Dakota Capitol in Bismarck:

          “Like many of you I live on the river, and over these past days I’ve been sandbagging with my friends and neighbors, and of course it’s just amazing how people turn out to give you help. It’s amazing not just here, but all over the Great State of North Dakota.

“I got up last night because I had to put some sump pumps in where we’d been sandbagging, and I got to thinking, it’s tough for our folks here in this area, just like it was in Fargo as they flooded earlier this year, and then Devils Lake, and the Sheyenne, and the James and Yellowstone, and up in Minot and all over the state.

“As I was thinking about that, my thoughts turned to Memorial Day. Even though we have adversity here at times in this country, we have the freedom to live life the way we want to live our life, to worship as we want to worship, to send our kids to school the way we want to educate them, to pursue the career and work that we want to pursue, to decide where we want to live, and to be active in our communities – to do all the things that we want to do for ourselves and our families in this great nation.

“We have that for one reason: because of the men and women who donned the uniform and picked up a weapon and put their lives on the line, and in many cases lose their lives. From the Revolutionary War, all the way through until today in the War on Terror, because they were willing to give their lives, we’re a free people.

“I see families sitting here in the front row like the family of Travis Van Zoest and the family of Curtis Mehrer. We’re free people today because their son, brother, cousin gave their lives. They gave their lives, and many others in our Guard, Reserves and Active Duty Forces, gave their lives not just so we’re a free country here in America, but for freedom throughout the world.

“That’s why we’re here today, and why it’s so important that we remember. That we always remember. We’re here to say thank you to the people who give us our freedom and liberty. On this Memorial Day we say thank you, to you and your families. Thank you, and God bless.”