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Veterans Day: A celebration of the great cause of freedom

Amata with Veterans
Source: Office of the Congresswoman

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Congresswoman Aumua Amata issued the following statement in recognition of Veterans Day 2018:

“Veterans Day is a special milestone for the whole nation to join together in recognizing all our Veterans, their service and sacrifice, and what they mean to our Country and our Territory. Ultimately, Veterans Day is also a celebration of the great cause of freedom, which unites us all. The strength of our nation’s Armed Forces helps guarantee that freedom and peace for the next generation.

“Thank you to each one who has served in any capacity in our nation’s Armed Forces, and those who are serving now as our future Veterans. Often military service spans generations in the same family, with retired Veterans and young people joining the military to do their part. We owe a special thank you to the family members. You take part in the service to your country as your loved one is on duty far away for long periods of time.

“As a nation, we’ve made commitments to our Veterans, including taking on a clear responsibility for important health care and mental services, and we must keep those commitments. To that end, Congress has been working to reform the VA, increase access to services, improve record-keeping, modernize services and add good choices. I believe these efforts are starting to cut through some of the red tape and making progress. These changes, combined with advances in Telehealth, can begin making a difference for our Veterans.

“Our Veterans are special to us here in American Samoa. We have the highest enlistment rate in the U.S. Army – higher than any other state or territory – and our entire Territory has a healthy pride in that. Many of our own serve in the Navy, and others in the Marines, Air Force or Coast Guard. We will always have high numbers of Veterans among us. On Veterans Day, we celebrate their lives – not only their years of direct service, but also their lifelong contributions to us, their examples, and their leadership.

“To all those serving, or bearing any burden from your time of service, you are in our thoughts and prayers. To our Veterans and military families, we love you and appreciate your patriotism. God bless you all, and God bless American Samoa, and the United States. Thank you and Soifua.”

Amata with our Veterans to honor those who served in Korea along with Hannah Kim representing the Korean War Veterans Memorial. [Courtesy photo]