On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918, the armistice that ended World War I was signed.  Since that day 95 years ago, we have fittingly celebrated the service of our nation’s veterans on or around that day.

As we approach November 11^th this year, and the celebration of Veterans Day, I can’t help but think of a quote once given by John F. Kennedy.  He said, “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”  The men and women who serve this country in uniform are a national treasure and should always be treated as such.  It is tough to believe that when the twin towers were hit on that fateful day in 2001, the 18 year old marine serving in Afghanistan right now was only 5 years old. That marine is following in the path of millions who came before him.  

This week, I had a great pleasure of welcoming the very last Mississippi Gulf Coast Honor Flight to Washington at the World War II Memorial. These trips are always emotional for the veterans and the volunteers alike: for many of the veterans it is their first and only visit to their nation's capital, and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see their Memorial. Many of the volunteers are family members and friends. These trips have truly been community efforts. But what is perhaps most striking is the reception these vets receive upon returning home. It is amazing to see Mississippians of all ages crowd the halls in such a patriotic display: young and old, people from all walks of life gathering to shake the hands of heroes, hug their necks, chant and cheer for “The Greatest Generation.” In those moments, we are one Mississippi family. 

I am from a military family; my grandfather served in the Pacific during World War II on Guadalcanal, Ryukyu, and Okinawa. He passed away when I was young. Yet he lived on in every John Wayne movie I ever watched: “The Sands of Iwo Jima”, “The Fighting Seabees” and “The Green Berets”. I was proud to wear the uniform and follow in his footsteps. But I am equally as proud to be a part of a community that embraces and supports our soldiers and our veterans. A community that cares about passing those values on to the next generation. There is no other place I can think of that I would rather raise my family than right here in South Mississippi. 

So as we celebrate Veterans Day this year, I know that I don't have to remind most folks to thank a veteran, or keep young service members and their families in their prayers. These are things we already do, that define us as a community.  These are the reasons I am so honored and humbled to serve the fourth congressional district, and these are the reasons I am proud to call South Mississippi home. 

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