Nick Smith, May 30, 2004

On May 29, a long overdue memorial was dedicated in Washington, DC to honor the men and women whose service during World War II helped to keep the light of freedom shining on America and our Allies.

This memorial will keep their heroism and sacrifice alive forever in the hearts and minds of all who stand before the Freedom Wall with its gold stars remembering the dead, who walk between the solemn pillars with their bronze wreaths, or read the inscriptions on the walls and fountains that quote Presidents Truman and Roosevelt, and Generals Eisenhower and Marshall. Their words speak of valor, obligation, and the strength of the human spirit. They speak not only of the 16 million who served on the battlefield, but also of their families, and the millions more who supported our military efforts on home front. They speak not only of the more than 400,000 United States service members who gave their lives, but also those who mourned them.

This memorial honors an entire generation, the World War II generation. As an impressionable 10-year-old in 1944, I absorbed the idealism and patriotism of that time, appreciating the immense effort to secure freedom on the battlefield and willing to fight to maintain that freedom for generations yet to come. The men and women of that era were tested to the utmost and we speak and worship and live in freedom today because they met that challenge with unbelievable bravery.

Our fighting men and women are again tested in Afghanistan, Iraq and the war on terror around the world. The purpose of terrorism is not killing and destruction of property, it is the effect that can result: fear, economic collapse, hatred, the loss of tolerance, suspension of civil rights, division, and chaos. Our risk has been and still is that terrorists and countries developing weapons of mass destruction join in their hatred to damage freedom-loving countries. We know that the Taliban in Afghanistan supported al Qaeda. We know that Iraq under Saddam Hussein gave haven to terrorists. We know that countries under the rule of tyrant dictators were developing and acquiring weapons of mass destruction. Some countries, such as Iraq, have used these weapons in battle and against their own people.

Today’s soldiers are meeting today’s challenges with the same spirit, skill and dedication that our veterans brought to the fight against the Axis powers. As in World War II, we call on our soldiers not only to fight and kill our enemies, but to help rebuild and comfort the suffering. They are not only warriors, but ambassadors. We entrust them to embody not only our nation’s might, but also its values, because they are the only Americans that many in these lands will ever meet. Because today’s soldiers are volunteers, it is especially important for us to support them, as a previous generation supported our troops in World War II.

We recognize the awesome power of individuals, committed to the preservation of the nation they hold dear, to overcome tyranny and evil. We realize that without individuals willing to risk all for this cause, democracy and freedom would never have appeared and will not long survive. With the official dedication of the World War II memorial and countless Memorial Day ceremonies across the country, we say an inadequate but heartfelt, "Thank you."

Congressman Nick Smith, a Republican, represents Michigan's 7th Congressional District, which includes Battle Creek and the counties of Branch, Eaton, Hillsdale, Jackson, Lenawee, Calhoun, and Washtenaw in south-central Michigan.