Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

Each year, Memorial Day stands as the national day of tribute and remembrance as we honor the sacrifices of the men and women who died in the service of our nation.  This day is unlike other military holidays where the American people celebrate distinct conflicts or moments of victory on the battlefield; instead, we honor the individual soldiers’ lives and the values that their sacrifices affirmed.  The courage of these men and women has ensured that every man, woman and child in our society can freely participate in our democracy and enjoy the security and stability of this great nation.

New Mexico has a long and proud tradition of supporting the United States military, with New Mexicans having fought for the Union in the Civil War at Glorieta Pass, the National Guardsmen who were captured at Bataan, the Navajo Codetalkers who baffled the opposition, and the F-117 Nighthawks from Holloman Air Force Base who launched the opening salvos against Saddam Hussein.  The United States has long benefited from the bravery of Americans and our state is made rich with the virtues of military service.  Our citizens’ willingness to serve and the honor with which our veterans have done so is shown time and again through consistent loyalty, integrity, and self-sacrifice.

Today, let us take a moment to pay particular tribute to the nearly 5,000 men and women who have lost their lives while serving our country in Iraq and Afghanistan.  And we shall never forget the heroism displayed by the 60 sons and daughters of New Mexico who have died while answering our nation’s call to service.  While we can never adequately repay the debt owed to those who sacrifice for our freedoms, it is nevertheless incumbent upon every American to do all we can for our veterans young and old. 

In Congress, we will continue to work to provide our veterans with the best services and opportunities available to help them lead productive lives.  To this end, I am proud of recent actions by the Congress to provide returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan every opportunity to receive a higher education and attain the skills necessary to achieve a better life for themselves and their families.  I am also encouraged that President Obama has committed to increasing the VA budget by $25 billion over the next five years to ensure veterans young and old receive the care they have earned and deserve.

I hope that every New Mexican will take the time this Memorial Day to remember those who sacrificed their own lives for the greater good and reflect on how each and every one of us can serve those who so selflessly serve us all.  It is their contributions that have made the United States the beacon of freedom that it is and the nation it will remain.  We shall never forget them.