[applause] executive director Army National military cemeteries. [applause] mr. Thomas stevens, Korean War Veterans Association, United States of america. And the honorable david j. Shulkin, secretary of Veterans Affairs. Ladies and gentlemen, the Vice President of the United States. Ladies and gentlemen, please remain standing for the procession of our nations colors and those of our Veterans Service organizations. As we march on the colors, the United States air force band will play the National Emblem march. Please render a hand salute. Please remain standing for the prayer for all veterans delivered by chaplain mccoy, sr. , director Chaplain Service national center. Let us pray. Eternal god of nations and veterans, you are so awesome in so many ways. We invite your presence in this most sacred garden where many of our veterans and families have gathered and many of our nations heroes rest. We give you thanks on this veterans day for the courage, devotion, and sacrifice all those who have worn our nations uniforms and offered military service for this country that we could enjoy such freedoms. God, we ask that you bless our nations veterans, encourage and bring healing to those who are suffering from both visible and invisible wounds of war. God, hold safely in your hands all military members, veterans, their families, and all who live in this great nation. God, remove evil acts from our midst and grant us peace at home and abroad. Give to us grateful hearts and a united will to honor our veterans. May we always hold them in our love and our prayers until your world is perfected in peace and all wars cease. God, give us all a joyous spirit as we honor our nations veterans. Let your presence be evident in the celebration of their service. In the name of god, who challenged us to care, amen. Now, i would like to invite mr. Thomas stevens, National President , Korean War Veterans Association, to lead us in our pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of america and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Please be seated. It is now my distinct privilege to introduce the members of the Veterans Day National committee. The committee was formed by president ial order in 1954 to plan this annual observance in honor of americas veterans and to support veterans day observances throughout the nation. Please hold your applause until ive introduced these special guests. If youre able, please stand when your name is called. Thomas stevens, National PresidentKorean War Veterans Association. National commander american g. I. Forum. Frank kowalski, National Commander catholic war veterans of the usa. Joe parker, National President blinded veterans association. John rowan, president , Vietnam Veterans of america. Veterans of foreign wars of the United States. William starky National President , Fleet Reserve association. David zurflew National President paralyzed veterans of america. Marion polk National CommanderAmerican Veterans, amvets. Raul helwig, National Commander army and navy union. Executive director noncommissioned Officers Association. National commander of the american legion. Cornelius van ess, National Commander military order of the purple heart. Wendell webb, National Commandant marine corps league. Lyons smith, executive director military chaplains association. Jerry walden, National Commander legion of valor of the usa. David gibson, commanderinchief military order of the world wars. John adams, National President of the retired enlisted association. Brian stacker, washington, d. C. Agent, congressional medal of Honor Society of the usa. Gary augustine, executive director disabled American Veterans. Dana atkins president military Officers Association of america. Jeff ledieux, president air force sergeants association. Board chair commissioned Officers Association of the United StatesPublic Health service. Robert swann, National Commander polish liege of American Veterans usa. Not with us today is paul warner, National Commander from the jewish war veterans as they do not attend cemetery on the shabbat. They will celebrate veterans day at the vietnam wall and world war ii memorial. The associate members of the committee are located in the boxes to my left. I would like to ask the president s and National Commanders that compromise our associate membership to stand and be recognized. Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in recognizing our Veterans National leadership with your applause. [applause] it is now my pleasure to introduce our Veterans Service organization host for 2017. The Korean War Veterans Association of the usa. The Korean War Veterans Association of the United States of america or kwva is honored to serve as the Host Organization for the 2017 Veterans Day National commemoration at Arlington National cemetery. Kwva is incorporated as a Nonprofit Corporation that meets the requirements for a Veterans Service organization under section 501c19 of the Internal Revenue code of 1986 and that is organized under the laws of the state of new york. The kwva mission is to defend the nation, care for veterans, perpetuate their legacy, remember all missing and fallen, maintain their memorial, and support a free korea. If you have ever honorably served in korea as a member of the u. S. Armed forces from september 3rd, 1945, to the present, or served outside of korea june 25th, 1950, to january 31st, 1955, you qualify for membership. The Korean War Veterans Association is represented today by their National President. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome mr. Thomas stevens. [applause] thank you, Vice President pence, secretary shulkin, distinguished guests and my fellow veterans and their families. Good morning and happy veterans day. My name is tom stevens, im the National President of the Korean War Veterans Association of the United States of america. The Korean War Veterans Association has the distinct cohosting this Years National veterans day commemorations here in washington, d. C. Often referred to as the forgotten war, the korean war began on june 25th, 1950, when some 75,000 soldiers from the north Korean Peoples Army poured across the 38th parallel, the boundary between the sovietbacked democratic peoples republic of korea to the north and the prowestern republic of korea to the south. The Korean Peninsula is still divided today. Today, i would like to pay special tribute to all who have served on the Korean Peninsula, from the start of the war to the present. Your service and dedication to ensure the stability and freedom of the republic of korea will be remembered for years to come. We honor and thank you for your service to our country and to the republic of korea. On this veterans day and all such days, when we pause to remember there are essential lessons for the young and indeed for all the rest of us, as well. Appreciate the blessings of freedom, recognize the power and virtue of sacrifice and respect those who gave everything on behalf of the common good. Veterans day reminds us of what we can achieve when we pull together as one nation respecting each other with all of our myriad differences, but coming together. We can fight any battle and face any challenge. May god bless the United States of america and all of the American Heroes we honor today and may god bless also those who still stand at the ready and may he give us the wisdom to do what is right for tomorrow. Thank you, were honored to be the host veteran service organization. Thank you very much. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the honorable david j. Shulkin, secretary of Veterans Affairs. [applause] its great to see all of you on this wonderful veterans day. Mr. Vice president , mrs. Pence, medal of honor recipient brian thacker, secretary minuchin, secretary mattis [reading names] and all the representatives of our Veterans Service organizations, assembled veterans, members of our armed forces, v. A. Colleagues, other distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, i dont think i left anybody out. The department of veteran affairs has two Main Missions to honor the dead and care for the living in accordance with the solemn promise made by president Abraham Lincoln in his second inaugural address in 1865. We at v. A. Keep that promise 365 days a year. In this past year weve made great progress to also keeping President Trumps promise to veterans, strengthening our ability to provide timely, highquality care and benefits while also improving outcomes and experience for veterans. But twice a year, we invite the nation to join us in keeping lincolns promise by honoring the dead on memorial day and honoring the living on veterans day. There was a time when more americans understood the importance of honoring the living. Many more americans had connections with the military. In the 1950s, nearly half of all americans, 45 , had either served in the military or had an immediate Family Member who had served in the military. Today, that number is just 16 . So ive invited one veteran from each of our recent major conflicts to be here today to remind us why we honor veterans. First, to my left in box 40, is Jessica Halton of kalamazoo, michigan. Jessica, would you stand . Great. [applause] jess ran out of money for college, so she enlisted in the navy in 2010, trained as an aircraft mechanic, she served with an e2c hawkeye squadron out of japan, completing three sixmonth cruises with the squadron aboard the uss george washington. And then after four years on active duty, she used the g. I. Bill to finish her bachelors degree and earn a masters degree in National Security policy, which she will finish in may. Congratulations, jess, and thank you for your service. [applause] degree and earn a masters degree in National Security finish inich she will may. Congratulations, jess and thank you for your service. [applause] in box 40, jeff roper. Joseph would you stand . [applause] jeff was born in fayetteville, inth carolina, raised richmond, virginia. Jeff was a sergeant in the gulf the second of the infantry, 101st airborne division. He was encamped in saudi arabia an antitank round peppered shrapnel. K with thankfully, jeff was ought seriously injured and was able his unit. With he retired from the army in 2006 service, and of now, he works in my office at the department of Veterans Affairs. Representingay both gulf war veterans and v. A. Employees. One third of whom are veterans. Thank you, jeff. [applause] next down here in front is tom from newtown, a booby trap sent him flying through the air. He spent the tet offensive in the hospital. After vietnam, he served nine years in the marine corps reserves before switching services and joining the National Guard as a medic. He is retired now. Tom credits the vet center in silver spring, maryland for saving his life. He showed up one day at his with an but the center staff brought him back from the brink. You and the other veterans, welcome home. [applause] next, inbox 40 in the back is bill scott of marlowe, oklahoma. Would you stand . Ok. Coming up, there. Great. True to his roots, as a proud member of the chickasaw nation, he fudged his worth a to enlist in the National Guard when he was just 16. When the korean war broke out, he could have used his young age to get out of going. He deployed to korea in 1951. Despite his age, bill was made a squad leader and promoted to staff sergeant. He served nine months in combat before returning home to go back to high school for his senior year. G. I. Bill to the go to college and he has had a very good life ever since. He has been a patient in the v. A. In two states, he has purchased two homes using v. A. Loans and he lives in one of of 52ow with his wife years. Congratulations to both of you. [applause] is carmellso inbox 40 wetzel. Who grew up on a farm in west virginia. Nice to see you. [applause] drafted in 1942 and devoid to france with the 26 one monthivision, after dday. First, he drove a truck for the red ball express, an analyst fromy that moved supplies the English Channel to pattons third army. He also saw a combat with a heavy Weapons Company until 1944 when a midst of fierce fighting he was captured by the germans. He spent the rest of the war as a view as a pow. Breakfast was a cup of tea. Lunch was two rutabagas. Men. Caped with two other for 15mained at large days before they were recaptured. Not shot because several americans who had escaped before them had been shot. After the war, he went back to driving a truck. For two years, in his spare came time, and without pay, he built apartments in baltimore for other veterans returning home from the work. Amazing stories and is hardly a veteran alive that does not have one. [applause] our guest speaker today also has a story to tell. Not of his own service, but of his familys. The Vice President s father, Second Lieutenant edward j pants, also served in the 45th Infantry Division in korea not long after bill, our teenage chickasaw started. Ed tends was awarded the bronze star for his actions in combat. Near pork chop hill. In 1983, the Vice President s older brother, First Lieutenant greg pence also served with the third battalion, third marine regiment in beirut, lebanon just before the infamous derricks. Ombings barracks bombings now, currently serving is the Vice President s son, marine First Lieutenant michael pence go is now in flight school. Record quite a service for one family. What it tells me is that when it comes to caring, the men and women who have served our country, the Vice President is a man we know will always do the right thing. Myies and gentlemen, it is great personal pleasure and professional honor to present to you, the Vice President of the United States, mike pence. [applause] Vice President pence general mcconville and admiral michael, to the director, the distinguished members of congress and all of our honored guests, but most of all, to the men and women of the armed forces of the United States of america and to all of our veterans who have worn the nation,of this great happy veterans day. [applause] there is a day in the spring when we remember those who served and did not come home. Day, is theeterans day when all across america in gatherings large and small, we pause to remember those