Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen, and thank you for joining me today as we recognize our veterans for their unwavering service to this nation. Across our great country and throughout the world, Americans will pause today to honor our brave fighting men and women who for more than 244 years have underwritten our freedom by their duty, honor and selfless service.

We recognize that all our veterans have given something of themselves to this country and some have given all -- laying down their lives to defend the freedoms we hold so dear. Today, we especially honor those great veterans who have given their lives in the defense of liberty and we also recognize all veterans who have worn the uniform of this great nation.

To all our veterans we have a simple yet heartfelt message -- thank you -- all of you, for your service. We want you to know that your example serves to inspire others who follow in your footsteps. Thank you for your selfless service in peacetime and war, here in this nation and throughout the world. For all veterans, regardless of their service and the era in which they have served, have paid a price for the freedom we enjoy.

Our veterans have paid with their courage and honor. They have defended America through both the best and worst of times and they have performed their difficult duties tirelessly, with little recognition for fanfare. They have sought neither fortune nor fame. A simple love of country and liberty compelled them to serve this great nation of ours.

We salute our veterans now for this selfless service and recognize that their devotion to duty makes them a source of inspiration for all to emulate. They are our heroes because they have repeatedly triumphed over adversity. They know what it is like to stand guard in the chill of the night while others sleep. They understand the meaning of hardship; standing watch at freedom's frontier far from loved ones. They have seen the horror of war and catastrophe. Yet they endure, and it is devotion to duty that gives us strength. It inspires today's military men and women to serve. Looking out on the world today, we can see how this unbroken line of heroes continues the work of veterans from bygone eras.

For our soldiers today, like the veterans who came before them, draw their strength from their values: loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage. These values have always been with our troops, and they continue to sustain us. They are embodied by all who have served and continue to serve our nation.

Our soldiers today confront an enemy with the same vigor those veterans who came before them displayed. We cannot take our past peace and prosperity for granted. But our veterans and our soldiers already knew this. They know our nation was founded not on the guarantees of the past, but the promise of the future. They know that freedom isn't free and that eternal vigilance is the price we must always pay for our liberty.

Let us also take this moment to thank those who uphold the legacy of the veterans -- our troops still serving their country at home and abroad. We must also resolve to thank and support all our veterans for their outstanding and selfless service to our nation. For we have learned from the past that our military needs our support.

Let us thank them not only today -- Veterans Day -- but every day. Remember our veterans and the price they paid physically and emotionally to keep this nation safe. Remember our troops -- America's future veterans -- America's sons and daughters, who have selflessly made the decision to defend your freedoms.

Additionally, remember that veterans' families and military families have also paid a price for freedom. We may never be able to adequately thank our veterans, our soldiers and their families, but we must always support them.

With your support our soldiers -- America's future veterans -- will continue to honor their sacred duty of protecting this nation, our fellow citizens, and the freedoms we hold so dear.

Katelin Carroll

Thank you. God bless you, God bless our soldiers and veterans, and may God continue to bless the United States of America.