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THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE THIS MORNING.
MY NAME IS BEN LANI, POST COMMANDER OF THE JAMES DAILY POST 200 VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS.
IT GIVES ME GREAT HONOR AND PLEASURE TO HOST THIS CELEBRATION OF THE 106TH VETERANS DAY.
YOU JUST HEARD THE RINGING OF THE BELL IN HONOR OF THE SIGNING OF THE ARMISTICE ENDING WORLD WAR I AT THE 11TH HOUR OF THE 11TH DAY OF THE 11TH MONTH.
IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE KOREAN WAR, THE DAY WAS RENAMED TO VETERANS DAY, A MOMENT TO HONOR AMERICAN VETERANS WHO HAVE ANSWERED THE CALL TO SERVICE IN BOTH WARTIME AND PEACE TIME.
I WELCOME ALL THAT ARE ATTENDING THIS TRIBUTE TO VETERANS OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED SERVICES.
PLEASE STAND FOR THE INVOCATION GIVEN BY GEORGE FEBLES.
LET US REMEMBER TODAY THOSE WHO SACRIFICED DURING TIMES OF WAR IN ORDER THAT WE MIGHT HAVE LIBERTY AND FREEDOM AND SECURITY.
VETERANS, BOTH LIVING AND DEAD, WHO FOUGHT ON LAND IN THE AIR AND ON THE WATER.
WE PRAY FOR THOSE WHO FOUGHT A GOOD FIGHT AND FINISHED THE COURSE SO THAT MEN AND WOMEN MAY LIVE TOGETHER IN PEACE.
WE ALSO CALL TO REMEMBRANCE ALL VETERANS WHO SERVED IN THE ARMED FORCES OF OUR NATION AND CONTRIBUTED TO THE GREATNESS OF OUR NATIONAL DEFENSE.
WE ARE INDEED GRATEFUL FOR THEIR SERVICE AND THEIR SACRIFICE AND FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN IN OUR FACTORIES WITHOUT WHICH OUR VICTORIES WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SUSTAINED.
KEEP SACRED THEIR SACRIFICES IN OUR HEARTS AND KINDLE WITH US A FLAME OF SELFLESS, UNWAVERING DEVOTION TO DUTY THAT WE MAY NEVER BE FOUND WANTING IN THOSE QUALITIES OF SPIRIT AND MIND, WHICH ALONE ARE ABLE TO PRESERVE OUR HOMES, THE PEACE OF OUR NATION AND THE TRANQUILITY OF THE WORLD NOW AND FOREVER.
MARTY, WILL YOU PLEASE LEAD US IN PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC WHICH STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD INDIVISIBLE AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE MAYOR TOM DRAKE OF HASTINGS ON HUDSON TO SPEAK.
OUR MAYOR IS A VETERAN AS WELL, UH, NAVY HOSPITAL CORPSMAN.
SO LAST YEAR WE BROUGHT THE SNOW, UH, FOR THIS EVENT.
THEN WE BROUGHT RAIN FOR MEMORIAL DAY AND WE BROUGHT RAIN FOR JULY 4TH.
UH, AND THEN MAYOR OMERKOS CALLED ME FROM EUROPE AT THAT POINT AND SAID, "YOU HAVE THE POWER OF STOPPING THE RAIN AND THE BAD WEATHER." AND THEN EVER SINCE THEN I'VE EXERCISED THAT ABILITY TO DO THAT AND WE, WE GOT AWAY WITH AN AMAZING PARADE THAT HONORED OUR VETERANS, OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, OUR VILLAGE STAFF IN AMERICA 250 ON OCTOBER 2ND.
WE HAD FIREWORKS AT THE WATERFRONT, SOMETHING THAT HASN'T HAPPENED IN MY LIFETIME OR AT LEAST MAYBE ONCE IN MY LIFETIME HERE IN THE VILLAGE.
SO, UM, AT LEAST WE CAN EXERCISE THAT POWER THAT WE HAVE, UH, AND THAT'S ABOUT IT OTHER THAN FREE PARKING.
THANK YOU PRESIDENT BARBARA KENNEDY FROM THE, UH, AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY AND COMMANDER PESCI FROM THE AMERICAN LEGION.
I KNOW, UH, COMMANDER HEALY FROM THE SUNS IS NOT HERE TODAY.
AND I ALSO HAVE TO THANK OUR LOCAL GIRL SCOUT TROOPS THAT ARE HERE TODAY.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING TODAY.
LET'S GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
WE COULD HAVE TREATED IT JUST LIKE A DAY OFF FROM SCHOOL LIKE EVERY OTHER KID IS PROBABLY DOING IN THIS VILLAGE AND YOU'RE HERE TODAY HONORING THIS DAY WITH US.
SO THANKS A LOT FOR BEING HERE.
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UH, AS YOUR MAYOR AND I'M HAPPY NOW TO BE AT THE END OF MY FIRST YEAR AS YOUR MAYOR.AND I FEEL LIKE WE'VE, WE'VE MADE A LOT OF ADVANCEMENTS, UH, IN THE VILLAGE.
UH, I, I KNOW ONE COMPLAINT, UH, THROUGHOUT THE LAST COUPLE YEARS IS THE BANNERS WEREN'T UP LONG ENOUGH.
THE BANNERS HAVE BEEN UP LONGER THIS YEAR AND WE THANK, UH, DPW COMMISSIONER MIKE GUNTHER FOR THAT.
UM, WE ALSO HAVE SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT OCCURRING NEXT WEEK HERE IN THE VILLAGE OF HASTINGS ON HUDSON, AND I'M GLAD TOWN SUPERVISOR FEINER IS HERE.
UM, ON TUESDAY NIGHT, WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING HONORING OUR VETERANS, ESPECIALLY OUR 100% DISABLED VETERANS HERE IN THE VILLAGE OF HASTINGS.
NEW YORK STATE, OUR PARTNERS IN ALBANY, UH, ASSEMBLYWOMAN SHIMSKY AND SENATOR STEWART COUSINS CREATED LAW THAT GIVES OUR 100% DISABLED VETERANS 100% TAX EXEMPTION, UH, THROUGHOUT NEW YORK STATE.
THAT WAS ADOPTED BY OUR COUNTY, UH, ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF, TWO MONTHS AGO.
AND NOW ON TUESDAY NIGHT, YOUR VILLAGE BOARD WILL BE VOTING TO ADOPT THAT HERE IN THE VILLAGE OF HASTINGS ON HUDSON.
UH, IT SEEMS TO ME THIS IS GONNA PASS.
YOU CAN PUT THE SQUEEZE ON TRUSTEE MALIKA SUNBERG OVER THERE, UH, RIGHT NOW, BUT I BELIEVE I HAVE THE VOTES TO GET THIS PASSED ON TUESDAY NIGHT.
AND I THINK IT'S JUST ONE MORE STEP IN HONORING OUR VETERANS AND ALSO MAKING IT A LITTLE EASIER BECAUSE WE KNOW OUR TAXES ARE SO HIGH.
ALSO HIT THAT MAN RIGHT THERE BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF THE TOWN OF GREENBERG HAS ADOPTED THAT YET.
AND, UH, SO MAKE SURE TODAY, AFTER THIS CEREMONY, GRAB HIM AND LET'S ALSO TALK TO OUR CONSTITUENTS, UH, FROM OUR COUNCIL AT THE TOWN OF GREENBERG AS WELL AND LET'S GET THAT DONE FOR EVERYONE.
UM, RIGHT NOW I KNOW IN THE HASTI - IN THE VILLAGE, WE ONLY HAVE SIX ELIGIBLE VETERANS, UH, THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS, UH, TAX EXEMPTION HERE IN THE VILLAGE.
IF YOU KNOW OF ANYONE THAT HAS 100% DISABILITY FROM THE VA, LIVES HERE IN THE VILLAGE, PLEASE ENCOURAGE THEM TO GO VISIT OUR CLERK.
HE'S HERE TODAY, ANTHONY CONSTANTINI.
HE CAN WALK THEM THROUGH THE PROCESS ON GETTING THIS DONE, EVEN JUST FOR THE REGULAR TAX EXEMPTION FOR VETERANS RIGHT NOW.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT EVERYONE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE, THESE BENEFITS THAT ARE GIVEN JUST TO TRY TO KEEP PEOPLE IN OUR VILLAGE AND ATTRACT PEOPLE TO OUR VILLAGE.
WE ALREADY HAVE SCHOOL TAX EXEMPTION FOR OUR VETERANS.
WE ALREADY HAVE VILLAGE TAX, BUT THIS I THINK IS SOMETHING THAT, THAT'S GONNA HELP RELIEVE BURDENS.
AND I JUST WANTED TO READ THE LEGISLATIVE INTE- INTENT.
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES HAS DETERMINED IT IS IN THE PUBLIC'S INTEREST TO HONOR THE SACRIFICE AND SERVICE OF THE VILLAGE'S VETERANS THROUGH THE ADOPTION OF LOCAL LEGISLATION TO MAKE EXEMPTIONS FROM VILLAGE REAL PROPERTY TAXES AVAILABLE AS AUTHORIZED BY NEW YORK STATE.
AGAIN, IF YOU KNOW ANYBODY, HAVE THEM CO- CONTACT ANTHONY AND I'LL HELP THEM.
I KNOW NOT EVERY VETERAN IN THIS VILLAGE IS A MEMBER OF THE VFW OR THE AMERICAN LEGION.
THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE PARADE.
THAT'S WHY I PUT A MESSAGE OUT ASKING ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO COME AND MARCH WITH US.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A MEMBER OF ONE OF THE ORGANIZATIONS, YOU'RE A VETERAN.
I ASK FOR RETIRED FIREFIGHTERS AND RETIRED POLICE OFFICERS, COME OUT AND MARCH WITH US.
WE WANT TO CELEBRATE EVERYONE.
SO I ALREADY KNOW FOUR NAMES ON THE LIST THAT I DON'T RECOGNIZE, SO I KNOW THEY'RE PROBABLY NOT MEMBERS OF EITHER ORGANIZATION.
SO LET'S GET THEM AND LET'S GET OTHER PEOPLE IN THIS VILLAGE SIGNED UP TO MAKE SURE THAT HAPPENS FOR THEM.
UM, AND ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, COMMANDER, FOR, UH, INVOLVING ME IN THIS AND HAPPY VETERANS DAY, EVERYONE.
TODAY IS THE DAY THAT WE HONOR EVERY VETERAN.
FOR SOME, SERVICE MEANT A TROOP SHIP TO EUROPE OR THE PACIFIC AND A WAR THE WHOLE COUNTRY FOUGHT TOGETHER.
FOR OTHERS, IT MEANT KOREA, THE WAR OF THE COUNTRY NEVER NOTICED.
OR VIETNAM, THE WAR OF THE COUNTRY NOTICED AND TOOK OUT ON THE PEOPLE WHO FOUGHT IT.
FOR MY GENERATION, IT MEANT IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN, TWO DECADES OF WAR FOUGHT BY LESS THAN 1% OF US.
AND FOR THE YOUNGEST VETERANS HERE AND THE KIDS IN UNIFORM TODAY, IT MEANS A WAR THAT DOESN'T EVEN HAVE A NAME YET.
BUT WHAT WE SHARE ISN'T THE WAR.
HERE'S WHAT I SWORE THE DAY I ENLISTED, THAT I WOULD SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AGAINST ALL ENEMIES, FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC, THAT I WOULD BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE SAME.
THE CONSTITUTION COMES FIRST IN THAT SENTENCE.
IT DOES NOT MENTION A PARTY OR PRESIDENT BY NAME.
WE SWORE TO A PIECE OF PAPER AND TO THE IDEA WRITTEN ON IT, AND WE SWORE KNOWING THAT THE PEOPLE GIVING THE ORDERS WOULD CHANGE AND CHANGE AGAIN AND THAT THE OATH
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WOULD NOT.THERE IS A REASON IT IS WRITTEN THAT WAY, AND THE REASON IS THAT THE MEN WHO WROTE THE PAPER DID NOT TRUST THE MEN WHO WOULD RUN IT.
JAMES MADISON, DEFENDING THE CONSTITUTION IN 1788, PUT IT PLAINLY, "IF MEN WERE ANGELS, NO GOVERNMENT WOULD BE NECESSARY.
IF ANGELS WERE TO GOVERN MEN, NO CONTROLS ON GOVERNMENT WOULD BE NECESSARY.
OURS WAS BUILT ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT WHOMEVER WAS IN CHARGE WOULD BE AMBITIOUS AND FACTIONAL AND SOMETIMES FLAT WRONG, AND IT WAS DESIGNED TO SURVIVE HIM ANYWAY.
THAT IS WHY THE OATH GOES TO THE PAPER AND NOT THE MAN.
THE PAPER WAS WRITTEN FOR THE DAY THE MAN IS WRONG.
AND THE MEN WHO WROTE IT WERE NOT EVEN SURE OF THE PAPER.
THE PAPER WAS WRITTEN FOR THE DAY THE MAN IS WRONG, AND THE MEN WHO WROTE IT WERE NOT EVEN SURE OF THAT PAPER.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, ON THE LAST DAY OF THE CONVENTION, SAID HE CONSENTED TO THE CONSTITUTION BECAUSE HE EXPECTED NO BETTER, AND BECAUSE HE WASN'T SURE THAT IT WASN'T THE BEST.
EVERY VETERAN HERE KNOWS WHAT IT IS TO FIGHT FOR A THING THAT YOU'RE NOT CERTAIN OF.
THAT IS WHAT MAKES THE AMERICAN MILITARY UNLIKE ALMOST ANY OTHER IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD.
ARMIES HAVE ALWAYS BELONGED TO SOMEBODY, TO A KING, TO A PARTY, TO A GENERAL WITH AMBITIONS.
IN DECEMBER OF 1783, GEORGE WASHINGTON WALKED INTO THE MARYLAND STATE HOUSE AND HANDED HIS COMMISSION BACK TO THE CONGRESS, A GENERAL RETURNING HIS ARMY TO THE CIVILIANS WHO HAD LENT IT TO HIM.
EVERY OFFICER SINCE HAS BEEN THE INHERITOR OF THAT WALK.
BEING APOLITICAL IS NOT THE SAME AS HAVING NO CONVICTIONS.
LORD KNOWS THE PEOPLE I SERVED WITH HAD CONVICTIONS.
THE FLIGHT LINE WAS NOT A QUIET PLACE, AND I HEARD EVERY OPINION IN AMERICA IN THE BACK OF AN AIRPLANE.
BUT ONCE WE WERE AIRBORNE, NOBODY ASKED.
THE CREW CHIEF DIDN'T ASK WHO THE PILOT VOTED FOR.
THE PILOT DIDN'T ASK WHETHER THE LINGUIST IN THE BACK AGREED WITH THE WAR.
YOU ASKED WHETHER THE MAN NEXT TO YOU KNEW HIS JOB AND THEN YOU TRUSTED HIM WITH YOUR LIFE.
IT'S A MERITOCRACY, BUT NOT A PERFECT ONE.
THE AIR FORCE DIDN'T ASK WHO MY PARENTS WERE.
IT ASKED WHETHER, HOW QUICKLY I COULD LEARN PERSIAN AND WHETHER I COULD BE TRUSTED WITH THE NATION'S SECRETS.
THE MILITARY HAS A HARD HISTORY WITH WHO GETS TO BELONG.
IT HAS KEPT PEOPLE OUT, KEPT THEM APART AND KEPT THEM QUIET, BUT IT HAS NEEDED PEOPLE MORE THAN IT CARED, AND THAT IS A KIND OF HONESTY.
IT TOOK THIS COUNTRY UNTIL 2011 TO ADMIT THAT PEOPLE LIKE ME COULD SERVE OPENLY.
THE INSTITUTION CAUGHT UP TO THE PEOPLE IN IT.
AND NOTICE HOW IT CAUGHT UP, NOT BY TEARING ANYTHING DOWN.
KING STOOD ON THE STEPS OF THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL AND CALLED THE FOUNDING DOCUMENTS A PROMISSORY NOTE THE COUNTRY HAD DEFAULTED ON.
HE DID NOT ASK FOR A NEW NOTE.
HE ASKED THE COUNTRY TO PAY THE ONE IT HAS SIGNED.
THAT IS THE GENIUS OF WHAT WE SWORE TO.
IT HANDS THE PEOPLE IT HAS WRONG THE LANGUAGE TO INDICT IT.
IT DID NOT NEED A NEW COUNTRY.
I DID NOT NEED A NEW COUNTRY IN 2011.
I NEEDED THE OLD ONE TO READ ITS OWN PAPERWORK, AND IT DID.
IT EVENTUALLY MAY HAVE COSTS, BUT IT GETS THERE.
SO HERE'S WHAT I ASK OF YOU ON A DAY THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT HONORING US, HONOR WHAT WE SWORE TO.
THE RESPECT THIS COUNTRY HAS FOR ITS MILITARY IS NOT A GIVEN.
IT HAS BEEN EARNED OVER TWO AND A HALF CENTURIES BY PEOPLE WHO KEPT THEIR POLITICS IN THEIR FOOT LOCKER AND DID THEIR JOBS.
IT IS THE ONE INSTITUTION IN AMERICA THAT PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES OF EVERY ARGUMENT STILL TRUST, AND THAT TRUST IS NOT A RESOURCE THAT RENEWS ITSELF.
IT IS SPENT EVERY TIME SOMEBODY TRIES TO BORROW THE UNIFORM FOR AN ARGUMENT, EVERY TIME A GENERAL IS ASKED TO STAND BEHIND A PODIUM AND NOD, EVERY TIME THE TROOPS ARE TOLD THAT HALF THE COUNTRY THEY SWORE TO DEFEND IS THE ENEMY, DOMESTIC.
WASHINGTON SAW THIS ONE COMING TOO.
IN HIS FAREWELL ADDRESS, HE WARNED THAT FACTIONS TAKING TURNS AT POWER EACH ROUND SHARPENED BY THE SPIRIT OF REVENGE AND IN DESPOTISM.
HE DIDN'T SAY WHICH FACTION, HE DIDN'T HAVE TO.
DON'T LET ANYONE OF ANY PARTY IN ANY YEAR TELL YOU THAT THE MILITARY IS THEIRS.
DON'T LET THEM MAKE THE UNIFORM A COSTUME FOR A RALLY.
DON'T LET THEM TURN A PROMOTION LIST INTO A LOYALTY TEST.
DON'T LET THEM TELL A KID FROM A TOWN YOU'VE NEVER HEARD OF THAT SHE DOES NOT BELONG BECAUSE THE MERIT IS THERE AND THIS COUNTRY DOES NOT HAVE TALENT TO WASTE.
A MILITARY THAT BELONGS TO ONE SIDE IS NOT A STRONGER
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MILITARY.IT'S HALF A MILITARY WITH THE OTHER HALF WAITING FOR ITS TURN.
JUDGE LEARNED HAND SPEAKING IN CENTRAL PARK IN 1944 WITH AMERICAN SOLDIERS OVERSEAS IN A CROWD OF BRAND NEW CITIZENS STANDING IN FRONT OF HIM SAID THAT THE SPIRIT OF LIBERTY IS THE SPIRIT WHICH IS NOT TOO SURE THAT IT IS RIGHT.
IT IS THE SPIRIT OF THE PEOPLE I SERVED WITH, CERTAIN OF THEIR JOB, HUMBLE ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE.
IT IS THE SPIRIT OF EVERY VETERAN STANDING HERE TODAY WHO DID A HARD THING IN A FAR AWAY PLACE FOR A COUNTRY THAT WAS ARGUING WITH ITSELF THE ENTIRE TIME AND WHO CAME HOME AND JOINED THE ARGUMENT AS A CITIZEN WITH HIS POLITICS ON HIS SLEEVE AND OATH IN THE POCKET.
NOT A FINISHED IDEA, NOT A THEORY OF WHERE HISTORY IS GOING, A 250 YEAR ARGUMENT WITH A FLAG AND AN ANTHEM AND THE ARGUMENT IS THE POINT AND THE MILITARY IS THE ONE ROOM IN THE HOUSE WHERE THE ARGUMENT STOPS AT THE DOOR SO THAT IT CAN GO ON EVERYWHERE ELSE.
IN MY TRADITION, THE SABBATH OUTRANKS THE HOLIEST DAY OF THE YEAR AND IT COMES EVERY WEEK.
THE THING THAT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME IS HOLIER THAN THE THING THAT HAPPENS ONCE.
THE THING WE ACTUALLY GUARDED WAS JUST A TUESDAY, THE ORDINARY TUESDAY, THE HOLY DAY WHEN NOBODY IN THIS SQUARE HAD TO THINK ABOUT WHETHER THE ARGUMENT WOULD BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE, AND IT DID.
EACH YEAR THERE ARE FEWER OF US.
THE ONES WHO ARE LEFT ARE NOT ASKING FOR A PARADE.
WE'RE ASKING THAT THE THING WE SWORE TO REMAIN WORTH SWEARING TO.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, THOSE WHO GAVE IT AND TO EVERYONE ELSE, THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING TO SHARE THIS SPECIAL DAY WITH US.
I WANT TO MAKE A SPECIAL MENTION OF OUR LOCAL RESIDENTS WHO ARE CURRENTLY SERVING TODAY, BRIAN DUNN, US NAVY, CHRISTOPHER GOLLIN, US ARMY, GEORGE MOORE, US NAVY, MICHAEL GERMAIN, US NAVY, PETER DILLON, US COAST GUARD, CHRIS MINOZZI, US MARINE CORPS, SEAN ROTH, US ARMY, MIKE GIBBONS, US MARINE CORPS, AND NICK LUMUKURI, US NAVY.
SHARE THE PRIDE YOU FEEL IN BEING ABLE TO COUNT YOURSELVES AMONG THAT FRATERNITY.
EARLIER TODAY, A WREATH WAS PLACED AT THE FOOT OF SPRING AT THE WORLD WAR I MEMORIAL, WORLD WAR MONUMENT, EXCUSE ME.
TODAY, OUR WREATHS WILL BE PLACED BY NANCY AND ANTHONY GAGLIARDI.
NANCY IS SECRETARY OF THE AMERICAN LEGION AND ANTHONY'S A FORMER TRUSTEE OF HASTINGS ON HUDSON AND VOLUNTEER FIREMAN.
PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLACING OF THE WREATHS AND THE PLAYING OF TAPS.
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I'D LIKE TO ASK OUR CHAPLAIN, GEORGE FEBLES, TO COME AND GIVE OUR CLOSING BENEDICTION.THE BENEDICTION FOR TODAY, OUR GOD, GOD OF OUR ANCESTORS, WE THANK YOU FOR THE BLESSINGS YOU HAVE BESTOWED UPON OUR NATION.
OUT OF THE MANY NATIONS OF THE WORLD, OURS HAS BEEN BLESSED WITH A SINGULAR OPPORTUNITY TO DEMONSTRATE HOW PEOPLES OF MANY FAITHS AND HERITAGES CAN LIVE SIDE BY SIDE AND ENRICH ONE ANOTHER'S LIVES THROUGH FRIENDSHIP AND THE SHARING OF OUR UNIQUE TRADITIONS.
WE ARE UNITED THIS DAY IN A SOLEMN ACT OF GRATITUDE TO THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED IN OUR NATION'S DEFENSE, TO THOSE WHO HAVE RISKED THEIR PERSONAL SAFETY TO SAVE THE LIVES OF OTHERS, AND ABOVE ALL, TO THOSE WHO HAVE DIED SERVING THIS COUNTRY.
THEIR SACRIFICES ARE FOREVER REMEMBERED BY US AND BY OUR CHILDREN FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
OUR HEARTS GO OUT TO THOSE SERVING TODAY IN OUR ARMED FORCES AND TO THEIR FAMILIES.
THOSE OF US WHO ARE VETERANS OF PREVIOUS WARS KNOW HOW, BEST OF ALL, WHAT THEY MUST BE FEELING, WHAT THEIR SPOUSES AND THEIR CHILDREN ARE FEELING, WHAT THEY PRAY FOR.
IN ALL OUR MANY FAITHS, WE ARE UNITED IN THIS, THAT OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH THOSE WHO SERVE OUR COUNTRY TODAY.
WE ASK GOD THAT THEY MAY RETURN SPEEDILY AND IN GOOD HEALTH AND SAFETY TO THEIR LOVED ONES, AND MAY GOD GRANT EACH OF US THE WISDOM TO UPHOLD THIS NATION'S VIRTUES, THAT IT MAY CONTINUE TO SERVE AS A BEACON OF LIBERTY AND HARMONY BETWEEN PEOPLES FOR ALL THE WORLD TO SEE NOW AND FOREVER.
NOW WITH THE COMMANDER'S PERMISSION, I THINK IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE IF WE SANG GOD BLESS AMERICA, BUT THE KEY OF GEORGE IS MEDIUM.
COULD I ASK THE GIRL SCOUTS TO COME OVER AND HELP ME WITH THIS? GOD BLESS AMERICA.
STAND BESIDE AND GOD REUNITE WITHOUT.
A SPECIAL THANKS TO PROTECTION ENGINE COMPANY AT MORBURTON AVENUE FOR ENRICHING OUR SERVICE THIS MORNING WITH THE RINGING OF THE MEMORIAL BELL.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MEMBERS OF THE AMERICAN LEGION POST 1195, THE AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY, AND THE SONS OF THE AMERICAN LEGION FOR THEIR HELP.
THIS CONCLUDES OUR CEREMONY TODAY.
THERE'S COFFEE AND DONUTS SERVED IN THE DUGOUT.
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO STICK AROUND.