Dear friend,
Our great nation was fought for and founded upon the principles of bravery, fraternity, and liberty; its maintenance being up kept by the ultimate sacrifices of over one million men and women, who laid down their lives, so that we as a country, may continue to stand free.
Every Memorial Day serves as a reminder of the strength and sacrifice shown by our fallen heroes, who believed so earnestly in our American principles and brings forth the opportunity to reflect upon the unwavering and everlasting debt of gratitude that we owe to our patriots and their families.
To thank them all, no words shall ever be enough.
As I find myself surrounded by my loved ones, my heart remains with those who are unable to share this privilege and with those who gave up their lives for the freedoms that allow me to cherish mine.
Having served in the Air Force for nearly thirty years, I have seen and felt firsthand, the heavy cost of our freedom both on and away from the battlefield. The price of upholding our dear values is high, but the lives of our brothers and sisters are priceless.
To their greatest extent, our soldiers have fulfilled their promise of upholding our security and we must make good on our promise to take care of their families, as they have us.
As a way to honor the sacrifice of our fallen heroes and their families, Rep. Marcy Kaptur(D-OH-9) and I have introduced a bipartisan, legislative effort to support our Gold Star families across the nation.
Through the Gold Star Spouse Healthcare Enhancement Act, we seek to ease the financial barriers to healthcare that bereaved family members face after the passing of their servicemember. This legislation would reform the current practice of expiring healthcare coverage for surviving spouses and effectively remove the three-year limitation on the retention of those benefits, enabling family members to keep their status and eligibility for coverage.
Behind our everyday heroes stand their families, and behind them, we as a community. On this day, we come together and join them to pay tribute and remember those who have given their lives for our sake. With their resilience in mind, it is my hope that we may continue their legacy.
Today, and every day, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the memory of everyone who has contributed to the protection and security of our nation. And to those who have lost their loved ones in combat, may we keep them close in our hearts, wrapped in the warmth of prayer.
As always, it is a pleasure to serve the 2nd District of Nebraska. If you have a question, concern, comment or need help with a federal agency, don’t hesitate to reach out. https://bacon.house.gov/contact/
