TOPEKA, KS -- U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, the most senior Marine in the U.S. Congress, today delivered the following remarks at a ceremony honoring the fallen on Memorial Day at Penwell-Gable Cemetery in Topeka:

It is an honor to be here with those who have served and defended our nation.

Throughout our nation’s history, military men and women have stepped forward to answer the call of duty. Our nation remains strong thanks to the courageous Americans serving in the military.

We are here today to pay tribute to those same men and women who so valiantly gave their lives so that we could enjoy the freedoms and liberties our Founding Fathers envisioned.

As we look around the memorial today it is hard not to notice the Wall of Tribute; so many pictures of your loved ones who have served and are currently serving our country. This wall helps all of us remember and recognize those individuals who have given so much to this country.

I learned about service and sacrifice from my earliest role model – my dad. During World War II, at the age of 42, he lied about his age saying he was 39. As a consequence he saw action in Okinawa and Iwo Jima. It was the right thing to do for him and for his country. I am proud and humbled by his service to America…which is how I feel about our nation’s veterans on this Memorial Day.

In this fast paced world that we live in, we can often lose sight of the true meaning of Memorial Day. That is why it is so important that we continue to share the stories of the heroic accounts that define our nation, so that those around us and future generations understand the importance of this day.

As we show our admiration today for the many men and women who have fought to preserve our freedom and liberty, we must also recognize those who have given the ultimate sacrifice. Each report of a fallen soldier we are reminded that freedom is not without a cost.

On Memorial Day, we honor those veterans who have since passed, but it also important to take the time to honor those brave men and women who are with us now.

In closing, I would like say thank you to the veterans who are here today. We honor you and the more than one million American men and women who have given so much for this great nation. 

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