Congressman Robert Hurt's Remarks At The National D-Day Memorial

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Dear Members of the Roanoke Times
I read with interest and pleasure this morning the partial coverage of the D-day function in Bedford yesterday.
Then I found it very curious that one of the featured speakers, Congressman Robert Hurt, was not mentioned anywhere.
As I remember, and my long term memory is still fairly good, when Perriello spoke at a D-day function he was the featured item in the RT.
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Attached are Congressman Hurt’s Remarks for the benefit of those who were denied his existence.
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The Pettiness and biases of the RT Editorial Staff does not become you and diminishes all the folks who work at the RT.
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Physicians Heal Thyself!
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Robert Hurt's Remarks At The National D-Day Memorial (June 6, 2011)
“So, to those of you here today who are veterans, the proud granite arch behind me is a physical tribute to your legacy. But, frankly, the more important legacy you have given us is freedom and it is the example you have set for those who defend us today. Let us be clear, the courage of these brave men and women who have fought this war on terror for the last ten years is your legacy. Their valor is your legacy. Their sacrifice is your legacy. Their peacemaking is your legacy. For this I thank you on behalf of our country, on behalf of the people of the Fifth District, on behalf of my family, and on behalf of my three boys…”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Robert Hurt (R-VA) today spoke at the National D-Day Memorial ceremony, marking the 10 year anniversary of the memorial’s opening and honoring the 67th anniversary of the Normandy invasion. The text of his speech, as prepared for delivery, is below:

Thank you for the kind introduction. It is an unparalleled honor to be here with our veterans, our active duty servicemen, our national guardsman, and the families of those who have served -- on this commemoration of the 67th anniversary of the landing at Normandy and on this 10th anniversary of the dedication of this D-Day Memorial.

I well recall being here ten years ago with my wife Kathy and our then 14-month-old son Charles on June 6, 2001 when President George W. Bush presided over the dedication of this memorial – a memorial that so well captures the unimaginable courage and the agony, the undaunted duty and the death, and the enduring legacy of sacrifice in its bronze men whose broken bodies lie at rest in the sand, whose strength and fortitude push them up and over the cliffs toward the strong and soaring granite arch that represents sacrifice, victory, and peace.

One memory I love as much as any from that hot day here ten years ago was an encounter I had with an old soldier who was from Halifax County. He was readily identifiable on account of the fact he was wearing his original uniform from World War II. On his chest I spotted a Purple Heart. I walked up and introduced myself and he told me his name was Wilkins. We talked a little about family connections and the timeframe of his service during the war. Then I said, “I see you have a Purple Heart there.” He said, “That’s right.” I said, “Well, sir, I sure do appreciate your service.” And then I asked him, “Where were you wounded?” He paused for moment and then with a good-natured smile said, “Well, son, I was shot in the backside.” Actually, he might have used another word to describe the location of his injury. I love that story because it shows what we know about so many of our veterans: even though they may have endured the horror of war, they do not project bitterness and instead look to the positive – with their words, their deeds, or, as in this case, their disarming sense of humor.

Let me begin by saying that it is a great honor to represent the Fifth District of Virginia in the United States Congress, and it is a particular honor to represent Bedford and this National D-Day Memorial. I often consider the important role that the people of the Fifth District have played in the founding and the preservation of our great nation. Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison of course are notable founders who had homes in the Fifth District – in fact, we here are especially proud of the fact that Jefferson had a special love for Bedford and his home at Poplar Forest – but equally important are those sites dedicated to the preservation of this great nation. It will not be long before we recognize the 150th anniversary of the day our nation was reunited at Appomattox Court House. And, of course, here we are, at this magnificent memorial that represents the supreme sacrifice of not just one small town in Virginia but the sacrifice of all towns across America -- on a day on the beaches of Normandy that was critical to preserving freedom for our country and for our allies.

I believe that it is fitting that this memorial was located here in Bedford. What a beautiful town. It might have been located on a battlefield, on the mall in Washington, or in a big city somewhere. However, I think this setting is truly appropriate because it perfectly represents the small towns all across America that nurtured and taught our soldiers about duty, honor, courage, sacrifice, and love for family and for peace. These are peaceful towns where these young men were taught that greater love hath no man than that he give up his life for his friend – where these young men were taught that blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God. So when these young men were called to defend their nation, they left their small towns, and they served valiantly to preserve peace.

We all know that during the early morning hours of June 6, 1944, our nation dug deeply for the cause of freedom. On that day, America sent her sons, husbands, and fathers into the unimaginable fury of hell for the sake of our country and our friends and for the sake of peace. The stories are hard to tell, the stories are hard to hear, but it is important that we listen to these stories and that we never forget the sacrifices of those who fought on that day.

So we will not forget. And as important as it is to honor the past, it is equally important to draw inspiration from this past and to be guided by the lessons from this history. And we need those lessons now more than ever.

Our struggle for peace continues. We will recall that ten years ago when we were here at the dedication of this Memorial, our nation was a different place. And while we perhaps believed it was a time of peace, little did we know what awaited us. We would not know until September 11, 2001. We remember the bright blue sky and we will never forget the unimaginable images of horror as our innocent nation was attacked – nor will we forget that while innocent souls fled to safety, brave men and women ran to Ground Zero and scaled cliffs of a different kind in the World Trade Center towers to save their fellow Americans from fiery death.

And that was only the beginning. Now ten years later there are thousands of brave American soldiers who have answered the call of duty and have gone to the defense of our nation in Iraq, Afghanistan, and across the world. There is no doubt that it is because of these men and women currently serving in uniform that our children are able to go to school in peace and sleep soundly in their beds at night. They are the reason that we are able to gather here today in peace. It has been a great honor to be able to visit some of these brave men and women at the Capitol in Washington and at the Walter Reed hospital in Maryland.

And at the same time we must remember that today’s soldier follows in the footsteps of those who have gone before. So, to those of you here today who are veterans, the proud granite arch behind me is a physical tribute to your legacy. But, frankly, the more important legacy you have given us is freedom and it is the example you have set for those who defend us today. Let us be clear, the courage of these brave men and women who have fought this war on terror for the last ten years is your legacy. Their valor is your legacy. Their sacrifice is your legacy. Their peacemaking is your legacy. For this I thank you on behalf of our country, on behalf of the people of the Fifth District, on behalf of my family, and on behalf of my three boys who are able to sleep soundly in their beds at night because of you.

Let me close with this: Last summer, Kathy and I took our boys to visit Arlington Cemetery. What a beautiful and peaceful place to reflect on the sacrifices of every generation. We went to the Tomb of the Unknowns where we watched the changing of the guard. I was struck by the unflinching and unwavering commitment to duty and honor while the Old Guard kept watch over the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. I had been there before, but I had never appreciated the inscription on the tomb of these so-called unknowns. I realized that day what the tomb actually says: “Here rests in honored glory an American Soldier known but to God.” We always talk of the tomb of the unknowns – but really that is not what the tomb says at all – and what an important distinction it is to consider. I realized that it means that while all of those who sacrificed for us over the generations may be unknown to us – and certainly most of those who have ever sacrificed for this nation are unknown to us personally – we should be reminded; we should take comfort; and we should be assured that these brave men and women may be unknown to us, but they will always be known to God. And that we will not forget.

God bless our servicemen here and abroad, God bless our veterans here and at rest, and God Bless the United States of America. Thank you.
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