Congressman Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico’s Third District released the following statement today on end of the war in Iraq.
“With President Obama’s announcement that in the coming days the final American soldiers in Iraq will be on their way home, all of the 142,000 troops who have been stationed there will soon return to every corner of our nation to spend the holidays with their families as the war in Iraq comes to an end.
“As we welcome these brave men and women and thank them for their service, we honor the sacrifices that they and their families have made during their deployment. We pay tribute to the nearly 4,500 Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country. And we vow to be there for the many soldiers injured in battle. On the battlefield the military pledges to leave no one behind. As they return home, we as a nation must pledge to never leave a veteran behind. Through increased funding for the VA, we are taking steps to provide veterans with the health care and benefits they have earned through their brave service.
“Our troops have performed heroically, rising to the challenge to take on every task asked of them. We owe it to them to honor that service by assisting our veterans who are ready to put the leadership skills they gained to work here at home. The Post 9/11 GI Bill is already helping our veterans pursue a higher education and get the additional training they need for the jobs of tomorrow. In addition, we have taken steps to encourage businesses to hire veterans, helping them find a job during this challenging economic time.
“The men and women who have fought under our nation’s flag have shown dedication and courage that not only makes us proud of their sacrifice, but hopeful for our future. This holiday season, I look forward to welcoming them home and once again thanking them for their service.”
