Cantor Honors Service Members This Memorial Day

Statement

Congressman Eric Cantor (VA-07) released the following statement in honor of Memorial Day:

"Since the dawn of our republic, America has been sustained by the selfless contributions of the valiant men and women who have served in our armed forces. On Memorial Day we honor those who have answered the call of duty for their country and paid the ultimate sacrifice. I join my fellow Americans in remembering those service members who have sacrificed their lives for our great nation and their family members who were left behind.

"The Commonwealth is home to almost 200,000 Virginians currently serving throughout the world and over 830,000 veterans. It is critical that we continue to support and recognize our military families, those currently serving, and those who formerly served. By answering the call of duty, these patriots have kept America safe and preserved the principles of freedom and individual liberty that our nation was founded upon. The American people owe them an enormous debt of gratitude and must never forget their collective sacrifice.

"This Memorial Day, one of my constituents, Nathan Huffman, USMC Sgt. Ret., and other Marine Reservists from the 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines Infantry Regiment, who served their country honorably from March 2005 to October 2005 in Al Anbar Province during Operation Iraqi Freedom, have organized a Memorial Day Ultra Marathon. They will honor their 48 fallen Marines and Corpsmen who perished during their service in Iraq, and the many other service members who have given their lives while serving our country.

"Sgt. Huffman will depart the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond along with many of his fellow Marines, Corpsmen, friends, and supporters and run day and night to cover the over 100-mile journey which will end at the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial. The purpose of this ultra marathon from Richmond to Washington is to commemorate the core values of Memorial Day and honor the fallen. These men and women have heard and answered a second call of duty to remind our nation to never forget the fallen, the wounded, and loved ones who have lost their heroes."

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