I am highly honored to speak here today. I want to thank Sandy Noguez, Director of Tahoma National Cemetery, for the continued management of this facility, and I d like to thank George Edmundson and the cemetery support group for putting on this event. Thanks to Eastlake High School Band for that lovely prelude, and Boy Scout Troop 506 for leading the pledge of allegiance.
Today is a very special day.
Washington State celebrated her 29th birthday. Since then our soldiers have been called to serve in the Second World War, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War and the Gulf War. Today, we pay homage to the thousands and thousands of men and women who sought to defend our country and our allies the thousands of men and women who devoted themselves to the preservation of our freedom. Today, across the state from the Puget Sound to the Palouse our citizens are gathering to honor our great veterans, living and dead, who were willing to lay down their lives to keep America The Land Of The Free. They were called Yank, and GI, Flyboy, and just plain Joe.