Lujan Statement on Memorial Day
Santa Fe, NM – Congressman Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico’s Third District released the following statement today in honor of Memorial Day and the men and women who have served in the Armed Forces. Luján will celebrate Memorial Day on Monday, May 26 in Angel Fire at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial State Park.
“New Mexico has a long and proud tradition of service in our Armed Forces and bravely answering the call of duty when our country needs them most. So many brave men and women have put their country first and made a commitment to protect the values of freedom and liberty that we hold dear.
“My grandfather, Luis Luján was one of these individuals, as he served this great nation in World War II when he left behind six children and his loving wife who was expecting their youngest son. He fought so bravely like all of his brothers in arms, and he returned home to the warm embrace of a loving family that missed him dearly. But sadly, so many brave soldiers were lost on the field of battle. Today we remember these men and all the men and women throughout our history, who in conflicts near and far have protected this nation with everything they had, making the ultimate sacrifice.
“Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said: ‘A man who won’t die for something is not fit to live.’ The men and women who have died for their country were not only fit to live, but they will forever live on as long as we continue to remember their service and honor their sacrifice. Because while we might not know all the stories of heroism that have been displayed, we know that we owe each individual our deepest gratitude and respect.
“On Memorial Day, we also reflect on our veterans and those who continue to serve in harm’s way as we pray for their swift and safe return home. And as we do so, it comes at a time when we’ve heard deeply disturbing reports of mismanagement at VA health clinics.
“When we as a nation ask brave Americans to serve and protect our country, we make a promise that when they answer the call of duty we will provide them with the care they have earned. Any failure to live up to that obligation strikes at the very heart of our commitment to our men and women in uniform and the veterans who have sacrificed so much. It breaks a solemn promise to our veterans and shakes the faith of the American people that our veterans will be treated like the heroes they are.
“There must be swift action to restore that faith by getting to the bottom of any failure to care for our veterans, addressing the backlogs, and taking steps to implement real reforms that will ensure this mismanagement does not occur again. So as we honor the memories, the valor, and the sacrifice of the men and women we have lost, we must also commit to fulfill our promises to those who have returned home.
“To our all our members of the Armed Forces who have died in service to our country, to all the veterans who returned home, and to all those who serve this very day – thank you.”
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