The Service Members and families who have sacrificed in defense of our freedom. The freedoms we cherish that are so often taken for granted did not come without a price. For generations, American Patriot have secured our blessings of liberty by willingly laying down their lives in defense of our great nation. Soldier leaves behind a grieving parent, child, sibling, spouse or friend. These family members and friends never forget that not at the door. Loud thunder of the 21 gun salute. Or the touch of a folded flag, once laid on top of a casket. , i know that the men and women in uniform, who served bravely alongside the following never forget either. Of those like an iraq war veteran, richard miles, whose picture i proudly display on my desk. Main. Y National Guards and i love National Guardsmen james connie, whose family are dear friends, just 22 years old and killed in afghanistan. Sergeantgh didnt died at just 25 years old, leaving behind his beautiful son , who was not even a year old when he lost his father. Was killed when a roadside bomb exploded near his unit, as it searched for weapons in baghdad. He was just 23. Knock that i gave on his mothers door, to tell her that her son would never be coming back home. , the firstgeant woman in the iowa and army Iowa Army National guard to be promoted to command sergeant major, killed in iraq and a black hawk helicopter crash. Of stories and many more these men and women of isla are heartbreaking and heroic and the very reason for memorial day. Years, i served alongside the best of our nation, women everything tosked preserve our great freedoms. One of the many ways that i pay a march. S through every couple of months, until covid19, i would gather a group of people to go on a march. I would grab my rucksack, filled with nearly 35 pounds and marched down the Washington Monument and back. Marches offer a time for us to remember and reflect on the service and sacrifice of those in our armed service. A couple years ago, i went on the baton memorial march in white sands new mexico. Desert,marathon in the with a 46 pound rucksack. Not my typical 35 pounds. It was exhausting. My legswere blistered, were swollen and sore and my had ached for days after he never times that i thought i could not keep walking and i was probably dehydrated. I simply wanted to quit. Mile wasute and every worth it. Lives ofonoring the the fallen, those who were on that baton death march and others who had sacrificed family, comfort, health and in 70 cases, their lives. Put the meaning focus. Memorial day into while this weekend is a time to reflect on sacrifice and lives lost, this entire month is military appreciation month, so i want to take a minute to commend our Service Members. During this pandemic, our men and women in uniform have fought tirelessly against an invisible enemy, and they have been doing an outstanding job. Troops have, our stepped up to care for patients in hospitals to deploy a medical unit such as the air force expeditionary medical system, Army Combat Support Hospitals and field hospitals. Members of our u. S. Air force have transported critical supplies around our nation and heroes who are near and dear to my heart. Our National Guardsmen have been working around the clock to disinfect public spaces, hand out food and provide transportation and logistics support. To all of our Service Members at home and abroad, thank you. Oneseir families and loved who also make tremendous sacrifices, we appreciate you and we support you. Because of the Ongoing Service of our military men and women, we will defeat this virus. And duringorial day military appreciation month, i pray that we will take time out rememberves, pause and all of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. The familys, the friends and loved ones that they left behind. Marinesf our soldiers, and sailors who never returned home today, we honor you. May god bless our troops and their family. Thank you, mr. President. I yield the floor. Senator from missouri. I want to join my colleagues in appreciation for sick senator ernst and her decades of service. Being ready and able to go whenever she was called to go, and her continued service and appreciation for those who served, that she serves in a unique way. This is a different memorial day. We have traditional events, planned on the more youll day. Every year looks much the same, but it will not look the same in many places this year. Even with the best of efforts, probably not put together for monday, but it does not mean that we do not have an opportunity. Also, memorial day has long , where i live in the middle of the country, maybe more southern missouri than other places, where memorial day became a day to remember all ,hose who have gone before us those who passed along values to us or who have done things to make life possible today. When i was growing up, sometimes we would call it Decoration Day because it was the beginning tradition of memorial day, to decorate the graves of soldiers after the civil war. That continued. Memorial day became a time when families would go to cemeteries and he would have a genealogical lesson there as he walked from gravestone to gravestone. It was explained how those people were related to you. Many family members who were here last year are not here today and will not be here on monday. The coronavirus pandemic has had a devastating impact on families , on communities, a devastating impact on lives. As we think about this memorial day, we will be remembering a unique oil day where somebody had given their lives in a war that was different than other warriors, 10 enemy who was not easily seen, to an enemy that turned out to be deadlier around the world than any would have predicted. That is part of memorial day this year. Part of memorial day is remembering sacrifices that people made. We want to remember sacrifices that people made to keep people. Live during this virus the sacrifices people have made to bring people out of the emergency room, to bring people off of ventilators. It is a unique memorial day. Were justgo, we finishing the incredible devastation, the devastating war of world war two. The end of the war in europe on may 8. 75 years ago right now, american soldiers were fighting at the. Attle of okinawa , our weeks before that country and our allies, who fought the fierce battle at the iwo jima. One of the soldiers who died at iwo jima was george phillips. March 14, an enemy had grenade was tossed into the area where his squad had sought shelter. Private phillips shouted a warning and through his body on top of the grenade, saving the lives of every other person there, but he gave his life to save theirs. For his actions that day, he was awarded the medal of honor. It was signed by another former missouri soldier, president truman, honoring that bravery, bravery of unhesitating that has been so characteristic of american soldiers over centuries of understanding what it meant to defend your family, did to defend your friends, to defend those serving with you. In the case of our country, to be willing to defend freedom, to be willing to jump on the grenade, to be willing to do what was necessary to protect others. We have seen many examples of that in the last year. Some of those examples were in the military. First responders, police and fire, many examples of people who missed their lives to save others in the virus that has attacked our country. We have a lot to think about this memorial day. A lot to dedicate ourselves towards as we look towards a future where people continue to give selflessly. For those who have served in the military, to be willing to serve and to pay whatever price. We stand in appreciation of that on this memorial day, as we approach this weekend. Mr. President daca it is an honor for me to be here with my fellow senators. I was very moved by your ernst recounting her service and the ohioce to many people of iowa. How it is commemorated around the country for those brave soldiers from missouri. We are getting ready to commemorate memorial day and we will be doing it differently, but is still just as important to honor the brave men and women of the armed services. They have served our country by standing up to protect the freedoms that we hold so dear. This memorial day is momentous because 2020 marks the 75th anniversary of the conclusion of world war two. Recognized victory in europe day, marking the end of the allied european campaign. Willptember 2, we recognize the 75th anniversary of japan signing its surrender, the campaign and the war. The u. S. Lost over 400,000 soldiers. We are fighting to uphold our values. Proud worldter of a war ii veteran, i had the chance to hear firsthand the acts of valor that my father witnessed on the battlefield. I had the honor to travel with several of my colleague to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the battle of the bulge. My dad was wounded weeks before the battle. His company went on to fight in belgium. Only three of the 36 men made it out alive. I think about those 33 men and their families on this memorial day. Honoring all the soldiers fought was a humbling experience. Mid to them are in their late 90s. The efforts of our Service Members were great. A couple months ago marked the 75th anniversary of the battle of iwo jima. I was hoping to go to celebrate that as well, but the coronavirus got in the way. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the conclusion of world war ii, but we must never forget all the americans who their lives in battle, whether the korean war, vietnam war, first gulf war and the fight against terrorism in the middle east, all the conflicts america has fought a. Our countrys Service Members, many of them have made the ultimate sacrifices to keep our liberties intact. I recently read a book called no surrender. You may have heard of it. True story of his father who risked his life during the final days of world war ii to save others from the nazis. His heroic duty saved i think thousands of lives. He was captured and sent to a p. O. W. Camp in germany. He risked his life to prevent hundreds of others from nazi persecution and possible death. But at the same time, he witnessed horrific acts and he also witnessed many, many of his fellow soldiers losing their lives in the name of freedom. The members of the United States military have always put our Country First and will continue to do so to keep our flag flying high. And Roddy Edmunds was a perfect example of this. West virginians have always believed in putting our country and state first and i am proud of all the men and women of my state, of which we have a large percentage of men and women who have answered the call of duty. It is sad that we will not be able to come together to honor the brave efforts of the men and women in our country who have given the ultimate sacrifice in service. But i know we will come together in spirit. While we might not have the usual parades and barbecues that we have become accustomed to on memorial day, we can use this time to reflect on the sacrifices made by our armed forces and their families. I encourage everyone to take the time to remember those who lost their lives serving our country. Memorial day is often considered the first unofficial day of the summer. But really, it is a time to remember those who made america the great country it is today. On monday, take the time take a moment to pray for those Service Members who have lost their lives fighting for this country and for their families as well. For the children who are out of school, take time to learn more about the men and women who came before you and defended this country and its values. I want to say thank you to all those who have served, all those families who have lost. Your sacrifice has not gone unnoticed and we are forever grateful. I yield back. Mr. President. The senator from north dakota. Thank you, mr. President. I rise with my esteemed colleague from west virginia, colleague from missouri, and others to remember to commemorate and honor those who have given their lives and service to this country. Those who have fought and died for our nation, secured our freedoms. And we are forever indebted to them. That includes many North Dakotans who gave their lives. 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 were reminded of the dedication and sacrifice of those who served 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. Thats why in 2014 i supported legislation to create the defense p. O. W. M. I. A. Accounting agency. This d. O. D. 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. 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 their survivors are taken care of and that these heroes are never forgotten. We can better uphold our promise and honor to those who made the ultimate sacrifice by providing their fellow Service Members, veterans, and their survivors with the Health Care Benefits and recognition that they have earned. Thats why we continue to work with the department of veteran affairs as they implement the v. A. Missions act which gives our veterans more options to seek care in their home communities. That includes providing them with access to longterm and nursing home care closer to home. Last fall, i also helped to dedicate the Fargo National cemetery, the first v. A. National cemetery in north dakota. We worked to secure this 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 operated by the state. To help support maintenance and operations, im helping introduce a bipartisan bill, bipartisan legislation, the Veterans Cemetery grants improvement act with senators tester, rounds, and reed, so that stateoperated 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 Service Members 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 extend our gratitude to the family 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. With that, mr. President , i yield the floor. Ms. Collins mr. President. The presiding officer the mr. President. The senator from maine. Thank you, mr. President. Mr. President , throughout america, we set aside memorial day to honor those who gave their all for all of us. Be very different from those we have celebrated in the past as we honored our veterans. This memorial day there will be no big parades, no formal ceremonies at state veterans cemeteries. In bangor, maine, where i live, each year there is a fabulous memorial day parade in which veterans from all conflicts and all eras march down main street, often with walking sticks that were provided by one of maines greatest veterans, galen cole, who passed away recently, a world war ii veteran, who made a pledge that he would always honor our veterans. But despite the absence of big parades and big celebrations and fireworks this year, mr. President , we should still take the time to honor those who have worn the uniform of our country. From americas founding to our time, the men and women of our armed forces have written the history of our freedom. From generation to generation they add new and inspiring chapters of valor, devotion to duty, and sacrifice. As we honor the fallen, we also honor those who served and returned home and those who serve today. Joined together as we grieve for their fallen comrades. We also thank the families, the husbands, the wives, the sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers who endure the grief that is part of freedoms price. It is significant that a day dedicated to the deepest of Human Emotions grief, remembrance, and gratitude began not by decree from any high authority, but in the hearts of everyday people. As the civil war ravaged the countryside and took on an ever greater and more ghastly toll, widows and grieving mothers on both sides of the conflict began placing wild flowers on the graves of the soldiers, regardless of uniform, who fell in their fields and forests. From those humble beginnings, we have remained true to memorial days original spirit. Memorial day is a national observance, yet it remains deeply personal for each of us. For me, it brings back a cherished memory from my early childhood. My father was a world war ii veteran who was wounded twice in the battle of the bulge. He taught me to honor our veterans and our flag. And each year as i was growing up, he would take me to the memorial day parade in our hometown of caribou, maine. He would perch me high on his shoulders, and there from the best Vantage Point i could see our veterans march by and our flag go by. Memorial day is all about remembrance. It is also about our resolve to uphold the values that sacrifice sacrifice we honor today. This was best articulated in what many regard as the first and finest memorial day speech. It was not given on a warm may morning, but on a chilly november afternoon in a place called gettysburg. These are the words of president abraham lincoln. That from these honored dead, we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion. Mr. President , may those who have fallen rest in peace. May we always remember them this memorial day and forever. And may god bless the United States of america. A senator mr. President. The presiding officer the senator from indiana. Mr. Young memorial day, we travel door to door in neighborhoods across this country. All americans will agree that this day is special. Its a day to honor the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of our country. Thanks to their heroism, we have our freedom, our strong democracy, and our countrys greatness. For their contributions, we owe them a debt we can never repay. It was 152 years ago that our 16th president , abraham lincoln, enacted the First National memorial day. It was a day meant to honor the valiant soldiers who fought in the civil war, and today we still heed abraham lincolns timeless words bind up the nations wounds to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow and his orphan. To me, memorial day is a day to reflect, reflect on the hoosiers and other great americans weve lost to causes greater than their own. This day honors alec, Lance Corporal alec derwisky of dubois, indiana, a fellow United States marine. Alec lost his life in the service in afghanistan in 2012 and i proudly wear his memorial bracelet around my wrist as a reminder of that sacrifice. The state honors Corporal James gr resam. Hes in the history book of being among the First American soldiers to give their lives in the line of duty during world war i. This day honors charles, Sergeant Charles g. Ruble of parker city, killed in 1944. His remains were recently identified and returned to the United States and in march he was buried with full military honors at Arlington National cemetery. And this day honors christopher. Just two weeks ago we lost Sergeant Christopher wesley curry. Only 23 years old, this hoosier soldier from terre haute, indiana, was stationed in iraq. Those who knew christopher said sergeant currys incessant optimism was the hallmark of his personality and often provided respite for others during times of stress. His honesty, lightheartedness, and wit will always be remembered by his brothers in arms. To those who are not here today because they made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation, we humbly say thank you. Their legacy lives on in the hearts of every american. God bless america. I yield back, mr. President. A senator mr. President. The presiding officer the senator from kansas. Mr. Roberts thank you, mr. President. Thank you to senator young, senator collins who just preceded me and set the tone as only they can do with regard rul, mr. President , to stand on the floor of the senate and speak about so many who have served and defended our nation. As the son of a world war ii veteran, a marine veteran, i might add, and a veteran myself, also a marine, it is a privilege to represent our men and women in uniform in the United States senate to be able to ensure that they have all the tools they need to fulfill their missions, to ensure their families are supported here at home, and to ensure our veterans receive the care and services that they deserve. Just a word about my dad. He was 41 when the war started. He joined the marines. He was in a noncombat role, a recruiting station in kansas city. They looked and looked and looked for a combat bullet and found one that said the top age was 39. They needed people. He was 41. He lied about his age and went to see action in guam, okinawa, and, yes, iwo jima. I went to iwo jima on the 15th anniversary. Thats about 60 years ago when he died when standing on top of a mountain, he stopped to realize the sacrifice my dad and others made. He survived those attacks and thanks to this president truman for allowing my dad to get back. Throughout our history, our nations men and women have stepped forward to protect us. From terrorism to cyberattacks to unpredictable regimes with the ability why i to astack our attack our shores and with global pandemics. The principles set forth by our Founding Fathers have been defended by our brave men and women in uniform. I stand here once again to commemorate those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms. Hopefully they will continue to be remembered by those of us who recognizes those who have given so much out of the love for their country, their family, and their fellow citizens. And remembering service and sacrifice does not just happen on memorial day. One of the greatest honors for me to meeting the veterans who visit washington, d. C. , through the incredible efforts of the honor flight network. Having the opportunity to visit with members of the greatest generation who make the journey to washington, often with High School Students who are learning first hand about their service and that history, so they can see their memorial is a humbling and uplifting experience for me and for all of us. To watch these men and women share their stories, many for the first time is incredibly moving. When meeting these members of the greatest generation, you understand how befitting that label is for these humble men and women who stood in face of tyranny and triumph. We see this same courage and resolve demonstrated daily by the good men and women currently serving in our Armed Forces Throughout the world. We see acts of uncommon valor and great sacrifice for a cause and something bigger than just one person. So we honor all of the american men and women who gave their lives for our country, since our nations founding, Susan Collins just referred to that in her fine speech. We honor the most than 300,000 living veterans from the greatest from those folks to the greatest generation and we honor the families of those who are here and are serving many speaking of the greatest generation, mr. President , i have the honor to be the chairman of the eisenhower memorial commission, it pays tribute to kansas favorite son and ikes leadership both as supreme allied commander where he saved western democracy and the 34th president of the United States. This memorial will serve as a symbol for all generations with a promise of america and what our values make possible here and around the world. Now we were supposed to dedicate this memorial this month, but like everything else, the pandemic put those plans on hold. When we dedicated the memorial in september, we hope to have many world war ii veterans attending, including kansas other famous son, senator bob dole. While our debt to these heroes can never be repaid, i know that my fellow kansans agree that these liberators and defenders of democracy deserve our respect and gratitude. I will quote from general eisenhower. There is nothing wrong with america that the faith, love of freedom, intelligence, and energy of her citizens cannot cure. I hope that those words by ike at that particular time can ring true in this body and more especially those of us who have been privileged to serve in this body. There is another quote i will repeat from winston churchill, who said kites rise highest against the wind, not with it. We have seen a lot of talk about the pandemic, and those winds have been a bit a bit partisan to see the say the least. I would hope we would stop and honor memorial day in the true way we should do that. I would also close by saying that in the words of ronald reagan, freedom is only one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by inheritance. It must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation for it comes only once to a people. Those who have known freedom and have lost it have never known it again. I think president reagan gives us a great deal of insight. Th duly noted. Mrs. Blackburn thank you, mr. President. Last week i received the very sad news that the fifth special forces group, which is stationed at fort campbell, which is there in tennessee, was going to have to forego and cancel their annual memorial day gold star ceremony. This is a tradition at the post. It is something that is so special to those gold star families, and were disappointed with that but understand. And ive really been pleased that t