Wyoming's World War II Memorial

Floor Speech

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President. I wish today to talk about a special group of people who live and work with us, side by side in our hometowns across America. The terrible days of the Second World War produced an entire generation of men and women who answered the call to duty to defend freedom and defeat tyranny in far off lands across both oceans. They left their homes and families, endured great trials, and gave so much of themselves for so many of us in the most difficult of circumstances.

These brave men and women served in our Nation's darkest hour. And then they came back home. They went back to work, to school, bought homes, raised families, and continued to build our Nation. Today they are our friends and neighbors, our parents and grandparents, our fellow Americans. And we owe them such a tremendous debt of gratitude.

Mr. President, on August 15, 2009, the State of Wyoming will dedicate its World War II Memorial at the Wyoming Veterans Memorial Park in Cody, WY. And I am honored to be here on the floor of the Senate to personally give thanks to the many men and women and their families who made such great sacrifices on our behalf during the terrible days of World War II.

The memorial being dedicated and the ceremony itself required a major commitment on the part of those who worked to successfully complete the project. This includes veterans, their families, friends, admirers, and all of the people of Wyoming whose hard work and generous contributions made this memorial possible.

The Wyoming World War II Memorial is a fitting tribute to all those of the Greatest Generation who gave so much for our country. It is because of them that we all live our lives in freedom and are able to exercise the rights guaranteed to us in our Constitution every day. We are the grateful beneficiaries of their sacrifices.

My father was a veteran of World War II. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge. My wife Bobbi's father was in both World War II and Korea. My dad always told me that I should thank God every day that I live in America and how fortunate I was. He was right. This is the greatest country on Earth. And it is because of the brave actions of so many of our fellow countrymen.

The Wyoming Congressional delegation had the privilege of greeting a group of Wyoming's World War II veterans on the National Mall this spring. They made the Wyoming Honor Flight trip to Washington from Wyoming to visit the World War II Memorial. Wyoming's World War II veterans are heroes in every sense of the word. They quite literally saved the world. Let Wyoming's new memorial be a monument of our endless thanks for all they have secured for us. All of Wyoming, and indeed America, says thank you.

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