They might not tell you about the many hours of volunteer time they put in. Veterans like First Sergeant Jose Garcia Apponte and dozens of others in Haiti who, on their own time and with no pay, started the School of Hope to teach the English language to Haitians. Veterans like Sergeant First Class Lewis Mikulecky, who earned the Army Volunteer Service Medal. He earned it for giving 80 hours of his own time each month to serve as a firefighter and an emergency medical team technician with the local fire department. Veterans like Captain Bradford Byrnes, who, through the Literacy Council, spends two hours twice a week teaching a Cuban refugee family how to read English.
Veterans do make a difference.
Today, on Veterans Day, we honor them for their service, for their sacrifice, and for making a difference in our world. Let me ask all veterans here today to please stand for a moment, or raise your hands if you cannot stand. Please look around you. I think you will see the variety of veterans I just spoke of. Talk to them today while you have the opportunity.