Thanking Our Veterans

An American flag now proudly flies over the Northfield Villa & Vista facility in Gering. On November 1, I had the opportunity to attend the dedication ceremony and learn more about how the community came together to honor our country and those who defend our freedom.

Our flag is a powerful symbol of the dedication shown by all the men and women in our Armed Forces, as well as the police officers, firefighters, and other first responders who risk their lives to keep us safe. Words cannot describe the debt we owe them.

Flying the flag is a lasting way to honor all those who have answered the call to serve our country. On Veterans Day, we set aside time to recognize and thank these brave heroes who have fought to defend our nation and preserve our liberty.

Throughout the year, I have had the privilege of attending send-off ceremonies for Nebraska service members and welcoming Honor and Hero Flights to Washington, D.C. Both are truly humbling experiences – watching our military men and women say goodbye to their loved ones with confidence in their mission and purpose, and seeing veterans visit the memorials honoring their service and sacrifices.  

While pessimistic news about the divisions and challenges in our country can consume the spotlight, these heroes quietly reflect the greatness of America.

As chairman of the Rural Veterans Caucus, I remain committed to ensuring our veterans receive the care and resources they deserve. This requires finding legislative solutions to improve management of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The House passed legislation this summer, which I cosponsored, to provide the VA Secretary increased flexibility to remove VA employees for poor performance or misconduct, while also strengthening whistleblower protections.  

We face many challenges regarding the budget, but Congress was able to come together and pass the Fiscal Year 2017 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill, which has been signed into law by the President. This legislation funds veterans programs, including much-needed improvements to the VA, and also provides the funding to equip military personnel, house military families, and maintain our bases and health care facilities.

Here in Nebraska, we celebrated the dedication of the new Omaha National Cemetery in August, which will serve more than 120,000 veterans and their family members over the next 100 years. Thousands of people will visit these hallowed grounds to pay tribute to our fallen heroes.

To the many veterans in the Third District, please share your stories. My grandfather was a Seabee in World War II, and his story inspired me to get involved and work to preserve freedom and opportunity in America. The Library of Congress manages the Veterans History Project, which recorded its 100,000th narrative earlier this year. For more information on how to participate, please visit www.loc.gov/vets or call my office for assistance.  

Whether you fly the flag, attend a ceremony, or shake the hand of a veteran in your community, please be sure to thank a hero this Veterans Day. The cost of freedom is high, and we owe everything to those who have been willing to pay it.