Wilson Statement on Memorial Day

"Let us all take time to remember those who have served this Nation in uniform so honorably and selflessly. We are here today enjoying the fruits of freedom because good men and women from the Revolutionary War to present day have put the support of America and the ideals for which she stands above personal desires and preferences.

"While estimates vary, it is certain that more than 1 million Americans have died in defense of this Nation. You may have known some of them. If you did, you should count yourself among the privileged. I hope you were as touched by their sacrifices as I have been by those I have known, people like Marine Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Trane McCloud-a military fellow in the congressional office I represent. He was killed in Iraq on December 3, 2006.

"To Lieutenant Colonel Trane McCloud and to so many others like him over the years of our history, we owe so much. It is a debt that we can never really repay to extraordinary military families and widows, such as Maggie McCloud.

"The only way I know how to even begin to express our thanks is to continue to support to the fullest extent possible those who now serve, to step forward and to publicly acknowledge their dedication and sacrifices for America. We should recognize and be grateful that, due to the sacrifices of American service members, there is a broader spread of democracy and freedom today than in the history of the world, with dozens of new democracies, upon the defeat of Communism in the Cold War, from Poland to Mongolia and Bulgaria to Cambodia. Iraq and Afghanistan have been liberated from totalitarian despots in the global war on terrorism,"said Congressman Joe Wilson.

Congressman Joe Wilson is the son of a World War II Flying Tiger who served in China. Congressman Joe Wilson is a 31-year veteran of the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard and he has four sons currently serving in the military.

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