Executive Calendar

Floor Speech

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Mr. HOEVEN. Mr. President, I rise with my esteemed colleague from West Virginia and my colleague from Missouri and others to remember, to commemorate, and to honor those who have given their lives in service to our country. Those who fought and died for our Nation have secured our freedoms, and we are forever indebted to them. That includes many North Dakotans who gave their lives serving in our Nation's Armed Forces. These fallen heroes served in World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

While we set aside a day each year, Memorial Day, to honor those who have given their lives on behalf of our Nation, every day we are reminded of the dedication and sacrifice of those who serve to protect our freedoms and liberty.

We must never forget those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, as well as those who are missing in action. That is why in 2014 I supported legislation to create the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. This DOD Agency seeks to locate the nearly 82,000 missing service personnel, so we can bring them home and provide answers to their families.

We also recognize that those who serve do not serve alone. The friends and family of those in the service of our country also serve, and those who have lost loved ones know well the cost of freedom. As fellow Americans, it is our duty to ensure that their survivors are taken care of and that these heroes are never forgotten.

We can better uphold our promise and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice by providing their fellow servicemembers, veterans, and their survivors with the healthcare benefits and recognition that they have earned. That is why we continue to work with the Department of Veteran Affairs as they implement the VA MISSION Act, which gives our veterans more options to seek care in their home communities, and veterans are provided access to long-term and nursing home care closer to home.

Last fall, I also helped to dedicate the Fargo National Cemetery, the first VA national cemetery in North Dakota. We worked to secure the cemetery because its presence allows North Dakotans who have served to be laid to rest with honor, while being close enough to their homes for family and loved ones to visit and pay their respects to our heroes.

The new cemetery complements the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery in Mandan, which is operated by the State. To help support maintenance and operations of our State's veterans cemeteries, I am helping to introduce a bipartisan bill--the Veterans Cemetery Grants Improvement Act--with Senators Tester, Rounds, and Reed, so that State-operated veterans cemeteries receive the funding they need to ensure that all of our veterans can be laid to rest closer to their loved ones.

Our servicemembers and their families have given much in defense of our Nation and our way of life. The State of North Dakota especially has a rich tradition of military service.

With deepest appreciation and admiration, we look to the meaning of their service, never forgetting to honor those who have passed, and we extend our gratitude to the families and loved ones left behind.

May God bless those who have gone before, those who continue to serve, and may He continue to bless this great country that they have served so very well.

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