On Military Spouse Appreciation Day, We Salute the Valiant Spouses of Our Servicemen and Women

Pelosi: 'On Military Spouse Appreciation Day, We Salute the Valiant Spouses of Our Servicemen and Women'

Washington, D.C.-House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today on Military Spouse Appreciation Day:

"This Military Spouse Appreciation Day, we honor the loving and supportive spouses who stand with our brave men and women in uniform. We recognize that military spouses are also making great sacrifices for our country, and we join those who may have loved ones deployed overseas in praying for the safe return of all of our troops.

"As the poet John Milton wrote, 'They also serve who only stand and wait.'"

"We are particularly grateful this year for their patience during this time of extraordinarily long National Guard and Reserve deployments that strain relationships and livelihoods. We are inspired by their courage while their husbands and wives face increasingly dangerous conditions in Iraq.

"This year, Democrats began an effort to end the Widow's Tax, an effort that honors military spouses with action, not just rhetoric. Also known as the Survivor Benefit Penalty, the Widow's Tax unfairly penalizes surviving spouses by reducing their retirement benefit to just 35 percent of its original value when they turn 62. It not worthy of our great nation, and we must end it.

"With great respect and thanks on this Military Spouse Appreciation Day, we salute the valiant spouses of our servicemen and women."