Each year, on November 11th we pause to express our respect and gratitude for the mill ions of men and women who have served our Nation as members of the United States Armed Forces and again we continue to say Thank You for Your Service.
November 11th is also known as Armistice Day, a day dedicated to peace, and is a fitti ng day to honor those who have kept our Nation strong and our freedom secure. America’s veterans have been steadfast guardians of peace and liberty not only here in the Territory, but also around the world. The citizens of our Nation and the residents of this Territory continue to live i n freedom because of the sacrifices made by those who served in the Armed Forces of the United States in time of national peril, especially those serving in Iraq and Afghanistan and here at home.
This year we continue to say thank you to the thousands of veterans in the United States Virgin Islands, who by their continued devotion to the highest ideals of patriotism and citizenship, constitutes a foundation of both strength and progress in the Territory. It is a privilege and in the best interest of the Virgin Islands and the Nation that we express our gratitude to our veterans whose sacrifices serve as a constant reminder of the high price of liberty and freedom. The Virgin Islands Community also joins in grateful than ks to the men and women of America’s Armed Forces and the Virgin Islands National Guard as we salute them for their dedicated, loyal, and devoted service to our residents and community.
I urge all residents to remember the sacrifices and contributions of all those who, when cal led upon to do so, served this Nation honorably to preserve our heritage of freedom. I invite all residents to join me in thi s observance as we pay tribute to our veterans.