Paralyzed Veterans of Americans issued the following:
Veterans Day Message from Paralyzed Veterans of America
National President: 'Do More for Our Nation's Veterans, Today, Tomorrow
and Throughout the Year'
 Paralyzed Veterans of America National President Al Kovach issued the following statement in honor of Veterans Day:
“As a nation, we join together on this special day to honor the
sacrifices made over many generations in the name of freedom. Whether we
call them Millennials, Gen Xers, or the Greatest Generation, their
common identity is characterized by a willingness to stand between
tyranny and democracy, and to ensure our freedom. We pay tribute to
all: those who took their last breath staring into the face of the
enemy; those who suffered permanent disability or illness; those who
missed births, graduations, and funerals while serving abroad; as well
as our future veterans, those who were patrolling the hills of
Afghanistan and deserts of Iraq this very morning as most of us ate
breakfast, kissed loved ones, and carried forward with the routine
aspects of our day.
Paralyzed Veterans of America
honors the millions of nameless and faceless veterans who have fought
around the globe only to return to the normalcy and welcomed anonymity
that families and supportive communities could offer. People casually
observe their aged faces or notice their disabled bodies, greet them in
passing, and treat them as ordinary individuals. But those who know them
know better. They have seen the uniforms, medals, patches, photographs,
and letters stowed away in attics and footlockers that tell the tales
of valor and hardship. Many of these veterans avoid glory for their
achievements as they defer honor to those fallen comrades who paid the
heaviest cost—the true heroes, in their eyes.
As we honor the veterans still among us, as well as the dearly
departed who embody true service and sacrifice, we should also use this
occasion to celebrate the most unique aspect of our country’s democracy:
the immigrants who wore the uniform and earned their rightful place in
American society through honorable military service. From Michael
Valente to August Teytland to Laszlo Rabel, three immigrants who served,
three immigrants among a long list of adopted patriots who earned the
Congressional Medal of Honor, we treasure their legacies that simply add
to the richness of our collective American tradition.
Today, we pay homage to all the brave men and women who have so
proudly worn the uniforms of our armed services and defended our great
country. I am honored to be counted in their company, and I am grateful
to be working side by side with many others at Paralyzed Veterans of
America, as we continue to support all veterans with the work we do.
To everyone honoring our nation’s best and bravest on this special
day, thank you for recognizing their sacrifices. And I encourage you to
do more, today, tomorrow, and throughout the entire year. Thank our
veterans for their service by supporting your local veterans
organizations. Seek out ways to volunteer and get involved. Hire a veteran.
Be their advocates. Be their heroes. Carry on a tradition that dates
back to November of 1919, when President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed
Armistice Day, a day for all of America to acknowledge the debt we owe
all of our veterans and pledge to pay that debt by serving and
supporting them in every way we can.”
Learn more about Veterans Day |
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