Honoring our veterans and their families

OPINION:

November is National Veterans and Military Families Month. It’s a time to honor those who have courageously defended our liberties as well as acknowledge the price at which these freedoms have been won. As a proud American, I am deeply grateful for the heroes who have worn our nation’s uniform and the families who support them.

We are blessed to live in a country with a rich history of service and sacrifice dating back to our founding. Our war for independence was won by scrappy citizens armed with hunting muskets, bayonets, and an ironclad belief in freedom. These farmers, shopkeepers, and craftsmen had the audacity to think their militias could defeat the British Empire, the most powerful fighting force of their time. And that’s exactly what they did. Their bravery inspired the can-do attitude and eternal optimism that has enabled our nation to become the freest, most influential, and most prosperous country on earth.

When America faced a new kind of tyranny from Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan more than a century and a half later, this spirit stirred our nation once again. The young men who answered the call to serve in World War II were regular citizens. They hailed from rural Michigan and the mountains of West Virginia, from California’s cities to the swamps of the South. These young heroes left the security and familiarity of their hometowns and found themselves halfway across the world, storming the beaches of Normandy and Iwo Jima. They struck fear into the hearts of those who sought to conquer and awe in those who craved freedom. They proved the invincibility of the American spirit and that the love of liberty is a powerful motivator.

And when our homeland was attacked on September 11, 2001, our men and women in uniform put their futures on hold to avenge the deaths of the 2,977 Americans who were killed in the attacks. Despite the horrific consequences of the Biden administration’s botched withdrawal from Afghanistan, it does not negate the bravery, patriotism, and sacrifice demonstrated by those who served faithfully. Even amidst the chaos at the Kabul airport during our final hours in Afghanistan, our troops made us proud, proving themselves to be the very best of America. Their service kept our nation safe and allowed an entire generation to grow up without fear of terrorism.

As members of a volunteer military, our soldiers serve not because they have to but rather because they want to. Those who choose to join know they put their lives on the line. But they also know there’s another kind of cost — one that is profoundly personal and long-lasting. They dedicate the prime years of their lives to our armed forces. They miss anniversaries, birthdays, and holidays. Even after leaving the service, the trauma of war often haunts veterans for years to come.  

Yet whenever we’ve needed them most, our men and women in uniform have set aside their own interests and put their country first. They’ve proven that even in the darkest of moments, Americans are resilient. For that, we are grateful. 

National Veterans and Military Families Month is our opportunity to demonstrate to these warriors that we have their backs, just as they have ours. The Republican Party will always stand up for our military and veterans — nearly 70% of the veterans serving in the House and Senate are Republicans. As President Ronald Reagan said, “We owe them a debt we can never repay. All we can do is remember them and what they did and why they had to be brave for us.”

This November, join me in doing just that.  

• Ronna McDaniel is the chairwoman of the Republican National Committee.