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For most Americans, the holiday season is a time to
spend in fellowship with friends and family, sharing
a special time with loved ones and reflecting on the
most important things in life. But for our brave
servicemen and women serving in Iraq and
Afghanistan, the holidays can be a trying time that
sharpens the pain of being so far from home. I would
encourage all Mainers to turn their thoughts and
prayers this year to our sons and daughters fighting
for us overseas and their families here at home. We
must recognize their sacrifice and acknowledge the
debt we owe them. The recent deaths in Iraq of two
Maine Army National Guardsmen of the 133rd
Engineering Battalion and the wounding of many more
weigh heavily on all of us. We grieve for the loved
ones of those killed or wounded in action and we
will forever remember their courage and
selflessness.
Despite the pain we feel, we cannot allow the
increasing challenges our armed forces face in Iraq
deter the U.S. and the international community from
the task at hand. We must remain resolute in
bringing stability to Iraq, a nation that has lived
under dictatorship for 35 years now reaching for
democracy. To fail at our mission of bringing peace
and stability to that nation would strengthen the
determination of our enemies. We have invested too
much in this effort to lose our will now.
To succeed in this mission, we must make
supporting our troops more than yellow ribbons and
speeches. We must be responsive to the needs of the
military leadership on the ground. At a time when
insurgents are working to undermine the upcoming
elections and the political transition to
self-governance and democracy, it is imperative that
our nation provide coalition forces the necessary
resources for them to fulfill their mission. I have
long been concerned by reports of limited armored
Humvees in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. On
December 17th, I sent a letter to
President Bush outlining my concerns and urging him
to include funding in the next supplemental budget
to use a Loring, Maine facility to up-armor Humvees
used in combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. I
will continue to do all I can to ensure our troops
have everything they need to complete their mission
and keep them as safe as possible.
One of the hallmarks of our country’s
greatness is the men and women willing to leave home
to serve on the front lines for the cause of freedom
and peace. Generations of Mainers have selflessly
answered the call to duty and our soldiers in Iraq
and Afghanistan today are the heirs to that
tradition of valor. I want them and their families
to know that we are all with them. They are not
alone as they face months and years of separation
with a quiet courage that is inspiring to all. All
Mainers care deeply about their families because we
know they are making a unique and unparalleled
sacrifice every day, and we could not be more
grateful. Who can doubt that their bravery is rooted
in our support and the strength of their families?
They couldn’t do it without us, and America couldn’t
succeed without them!
As we look forward to and pray for the homecoming
of all our heroes serving abroad, I want to wish
them and their families a happy, peaceful holiday.
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