A Time to Remember Our American Heroes

Statement

While some think of Memorial Day weekend as a holiday marking the unofficial start to summer - one filled with cookouts, family gatherings, and time spent outdoors - it's important to take pause and remember the day's true meaning.

Originally called Decoration Day, the yearly observance honoring our fallen soldiers began over 146 years ago, after the Civil War. In 1971, a congressional act established Memorial Day's official status as a federal holiday, which now occurs annually on the last Monday in May.

Each year, no matter how times change and what conflicts occur, Memorial Day is an important opportunity to remember and celebrate our American heroes. It is a time to stop and pay our respects to the brave men and women whose lives ended far too quickly, while serving our country and defending our liberties.

Every weekend when I return home to Van Meter, I am reminded of our service members' great sacrifice. I pass by the entrance of the Iowa Veterans Cemetery, the entrance to truly hallowed ground. It is the final resting place of many heroes, a place for Iowans and all Americans to honor and pay their respects to loved ones they have lost. Each time I pass the cemetery, I think of our brave American soldiers laid to rest - a solemn reminder - freedom is not free.

These heroes' love of country, their sacrifice and their bravery exemplify what it means to be an American. Their willingness to answer the call and serve our country will never be forgotten.

Memorial Day is also a time which reminds us we have a duty to those who did make it home and those who serve our country today. This week the U.S. House of Representatives passed the annual funding bill for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Through my position on the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, I was able to fight to have important provisions included in the bill to expand veterans' access to VA outpatient clinics, improve mental health and medical services, and fix problems with the Veterans Crisis Line.

As our service members continue to do so much for us, it is critical we are looking out for them when they return home. I've supported measures such as the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans (SAV) Act, to ensure those who seek care, whether those silently suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder or other invisible wounds of war, have the help they need. Whether through supporting meaningful legislation or efforts in the community, such as the veterans care fairs I hosted last year in Council Bluffs and Des Moines, we must ensure our veterans have the care and resources they deserve.

Ultimately, I am thankful for our men and women in uniform, who are working towards a world that is freer, safer and more secure for our generation and for generations to come. This Memorial Day weekend, take pause and thank a veteran, recognize a service member, or remember those who lost their lives in defense of our freedoms. We owe a great deal to those in uniform who have answered the call to serve our nation.

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