NOTICIAS

When I reflect upon the courageous and selfless men and women of the United States Armed Forces, I am humbled by two very powerful sentiments – one is an uplifting sense of pride in the accomplishments of these Americans, the other is a great reverence for the sacrifice that has been the price of those accomplishments. This is a day in which we dedicate ourselves to honoring the sacrifices paid by those who were – and are currently – prisoners of war and missing in action.

First, to those who may be missing a family member or friend serving in our armed forces, I pray for the swift and safe return of your loved one. I also pray that you feel the love and support of the American people, who live with great gratitude for the service that your family has offered our nation.

And to those men and women who were once in harm’s way but have since been returned safely home, I give my sincere thanks for your service and sacrifice, as well as for the profound example you have set for the rest of your countrymen.

Sadly, today we also remember those who were prisoners of war or missing in action that our nation has since lost. If there is any solace to be found in such a grief, it is in the knowledge that each of these Americans fought under a flag that represents ideals more noble than any brought together under one banner in the history of the world. These ideals, enshrined in our founding and enjoyed by all of us today, serve as the ultimate testament to those who, as Abraham Lincoln once wrote, “have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.”