Congressman Edolphus "Ed" Towns (NY10) released the following statement on Veteran's Day:
"Today is Veteran's Day and fittingly we pause to reflect on veterans of military service and their incalculable contributions to securing the freedom and liberty that all Americans enjoy. These men and women who volunteered their service, fought in wars from the World Wars through present military engagements in Iraq and Afghanistan, are the bravest of our citizens. Many of them have returned from the battlefields physically and emotionally scarred. We owe them so much.
"The 10th Congressional District is home to more than 15,000 military veterans. Nearly 70 percent of the veterans in our district are African American men and women. As a veteran of the United States Army, I am proud to be counted among them. I can remember the days when the military was segregated and can now marvel at how much progress has been made in my lifetime. I never thought I would live to see the day that we would have an African American Commander-in-Chief, President Barack Obama.
"As long as I am in Congress, working to meet the needs of veterans will be one of my top priorities. After putting their lives on the line for our country, no veteran should be homeless or go without adequate food, shelter and medical care. I will continue to introduce and support bills like H.R. 287, the Homes for Heroes Act; H.R. 2559, the Helping Homeless Heroes Act of 2011; H.R. 2875, the Wounded Veterans Job Security Act; and H.R. 923, the Veterans Pensions Protection Act.
"Despite our challenges, the United States of America remains the envy of the world. No where on Earth do people enjoy more freedom, more economic opportunity, and more prosperity. We owe much of great fortune to the men and women who proudly serve in our armed forces. Let us remember them this Veteran's Day and pledge to never let them down."