Veterans Affairs Secretary Bob McDonald will host Veterans Day events throughout the Washington, D.C. area on Friday, part of the department's annual tradition marking the holiday.
On Thursday, he spoke at Got Your Six Storytellers event about what Veterans Day means to him, and what he wants the public to think about on Nov. 11:
"I'm going to be at Arlington National Cemetery tomorrow, and I know many of you will be as well. When I go there, I always think about the opening (and closing) sequence of the movie 'Saving Private Ryan.'
"Pvt. Ryan comes back to Omaha beach and says to Capt. Miller, who gave his life in combat for Pvt. Ryan, "I've tried to live my life consistent with what you did for me. I've tried to do everything I can to thank you in the way I've lived my life. Tell me that I've earned it.""And I know all of us who are veterans, one of the reasons we are better contributors to our community, one of the reasons we vote more often, one of the reasons we are engaged … is because all of us feel we are inadequate.
"I'm certainly inadequate compared to Will, who gave much more than I did. I'm inadequate compared to Bill, because Bill served in combat. But we're all inadequate compared to that person who never came back.
"That's what Veterans Day is about, and what every day is about: remembering all of those who served and what they have done, so all of us can enjoy the freedoms that we have."
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Leo Shane III covers Congress, Veterans Affairs and the White House for Military Times. He can be reached at lshane@militarytimes.com .
Leo covers Congress, Veterans Affairs and the White House for Military Times. He has covered Washington, D.C. since 2004, focusing on military personnel and veterans policies. His work has earned numerous honors, including a 2009 Polk award, a 2010 National Headliner Award, the IAVA Leadership in Journalism award and the VFW News Media award.
