Ashley Moody Holds Veterans Day Ceremony For Florida Vietnam War Veterans

Can y'all rise for the posting the colors please. Honor Guard captain, Ken Thomas. In this room today, we have very many of them that put their lives on the line for this nation and forever, and we begin to celebrate it today. We ask that you bless every one of us and watch over this ceremony as we go forward. In your son's name, amen. Amen. Passed post commander Jim Berger will lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Ready? Two. Please remain standing for the National Anthem. Oh say can you see, by the dawn's early light, what so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming? Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight, O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming? And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. Oh say does that star-spangled banner yet wave, O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave? Please be seated. I apologize for the technical difficulties. Happy Veterans Day, everybody. As we all know, every day is Veterans Day in this building. I'd like to welcome everyone to this ceremony. I'd especially like to welcome Senator Moody for joining us in this ceremony. A special welcome to the Adjutant Quartermaster, John Coleman. Our Department Surgeon, Mike Klein. You know, when Saigon fell in April of 75, I was barely five years old. In school, the Vietnam War was a small, quiet chapter in our history books. Perhaps the pages were only three. They talked about the anti-war protests, the domino theory, and the tragedy at Kent State. As a kid, the conflict felt distant, a historical footnote that had happened decades prior. Largely an experience only through the lens of late 80s movies and songs. Then history became personal for me. As my ship returned from Desert Storm, we entered the St. Johns River. On the way to the pier, the shores were lined with not only family, but Vietnam veterans. And they were all holding signs that said, Never again will vet be unwelcome home. That was a powerful, spontaneous display extended all the way to the pier. And it's a memory that has seared into my mind. It was a promise made to my generation. Later, when I joined this organization, it brought me close to many of you in this room. I had the privilege of listening to your stories. Good, bad, and deeply painful. You shared the burden of being mistreated, the cruel names you were called, spit on at times, and worse even yet, having your own fellow veterans turn their backs on you. You didn't just welcome us home, you taught us how to welcome. You had hundreds, you handed down a sacred message. Because of your courage and your sacrifice, I've made it my singular mission to ensure that every veteran who returns home receives the honor and respect that they deserve. I promise you this, never again will a veteran ever come home unwelcomed on my watch. It is now my distinct pleasure to introduce our Department Quartermaster, the Adjutant Quartermaster, sorry sir, John Coleman. Good afternoon. Before I begin, let me say it's an honor to be here at Post 3233. Not only as a leader in this wonderful fraternal organization, but as a true friend. This post has been a place that's always welcoming to me. And people here truly understand what it means to be comrades in this organization. I want to first thank Commander Evans, the Auxiliary, and the wonderful members who have welcomed all of us here many times. I'd also like to thank Senator Moody for the opportunity to join her today as we near the end of a government shutdown. I'd like to thank her for going to work every day to ensure that we get these votes could happen. Now as you all know, we don't get political in the VFW. I appreciate her leadership. She is more of an advocate for you and I than you'll ever know. And like any good captain also knows, smooth seas do not make for a good sailor. It is what happens when the waves are rough that shows true integrity. Today we stand united on Veterans Day to pay tribute to the courageous men and women who have defended our freedom. This day is a solemn reminder of the contract each of us have signed with our nation as we enter into and become a service member. The promise that we, as a grateful nation, will provide for them and their families upon their return. On this day, I want to pay special recognition to our Vietnam Veterans. The generation who answered the call with profound courage and immense sacrifice. Often returning home to insufficient welcomes in a divided nation. Their unique struggle, particularly the decades-long fight for recognition of exposure to toxins like Agent Orange, was a painful lesson that galvanized the veteran community. It strengthened the resolve of organizations like the VFW to act as a tireless advocate for what you earned. The VFW was a driving force, instrumentally securing compensation for Vietnam Veterans exposed to Agent Orange. Most recently, veteran eras of all eras, toxic exposure to the landmark PACT Act of 2022. We honor their resilience and continued strength and leadership with our veteran community today. Demonstrating the fight for benefits is an unending promise. I want to take a moment to talk about the VFW Auxiliary. Including the relatives of those who have served in overseas combat, they are the heart of the VFW community. A support network, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our veterans for over a century. They are an essential force for good, embodying the principle service of action. I'm going to wrap this up real quick. I want to give you guys a phrase to learn. It's called honor the contract. That is a VFW rallying cry and a powerful reminder of a mutual obligation between the veteran and the nation that they served. The veteran fulfilled their end of the contract by serving honorably, accepting profound risk. Now it's up to our leaders and every citizen to fulfill the nation's end of the contract. What does that mean? Ensuring timely, high-quality health care and benefits. Easily accessible for all veterans. Advocating for legislative reforms that protect enhanced veterans' earned entitlements. Supporting the VFW and its Auxiliary as they continue to fight every day for every veteran. As the Commander just said a few minutes ago, every day is Veterans Day here at the VFW. Let us commit today to carrying on the legacy of our Vietnam veterans and the spirit of the VFW's dedication as we move forward. Let us work tirelessly to assure our nation's promise to its veterans is always upheld and our contracts are honored. I thank you all for the opportunity to speak in this wonderful event. I thank you all for what you've done for this country. Welcome home. It is now my distinct honor to introduce Senator Ashley Moody. Not necessary. Thank you very much. Thank you. My husband's standing up. He's like, I can't let all these other people show me up. If I don't stand up I'm in trouble tonight. And let me start by sharing with you, so rarely in this crazy schedule do I get to appear with my husband at my side which I wish was 24 hours a day, seven days a week. But today he is with me for Veterans Day. I'd like to introduce you, Justin, if you'll stand up. So this is a special moment for us to be here to thank you. If I could just begin by saying, it is my greatest honor to serve you as your newest senator from Florida and serve my country. It pales in the way that you serve your country. But I am honored to do it and I want you to know I wake up every day with excitement about this responsibility, a heaviness that I take on to truly serve and do a good job for you and our fellow Floridians. And I am honored that I was invited here today to celebrate this day with you. So thank you for welcoming me. We have someone here that I'd like to start off by recognizing specifically and that is Senior Chief Marty Monaco. Is he here? Marty? Thank you for being with us. Thank you for coming today and thank you for your service. Marty is a Korean and Vietnam War Veteran in addition to being a Bronze Star recipient and he was also awarded not one, not two, but three Purple Hearts. Such an amazing man. Thank you. And thank you to Commander Ron Evans, the FW Florida Adjutant General John Coleman and everybody who helped organize this event. I really appreciate that. My husband was a DEA agent his entire career. Now he's a Deputy Chief in a law enforcement agency. So service is nothing new to our family but the oldest boy in our family serves the United States Army proudly right now in active duty. So he wishes he could be here too. He's in Fort Benning right now. I know he would rather be here with us today but he is in training. Thank you for not only being here but continuing to gather to support one another because we know that post active duty you still have to support your brothers and sisters in arms. It is so important. You answered the call. Many didn't. You answered the call bravely, selflessly to serve this nation. Many of you decided you wanted to serve and no one ever asked. You just signed up and enlisted. I admire both of you so much. The oldest boy in our family told us I think when he was 14 that he wanted to serve and certainly went on and demonstrated that commitment to our nation and I am always in awe and continue to be in awe of those people that say I'll sign up to defend the freedom for the generations to come because we know that we can't rest on our laurels that it takes every generation having those special men and women that are called to this service or answer the call and showing up showing up when other Americans won't showing up because they know this country is worth it and the ideals that we were founded on they're worth it and so today of all days I think we gather to say thank you to our veterans of every branch certainly today we're recognizing those who served in Vietnam but it's a good day to remind ourselves that you have to continue to serve as the role models and the inspiration and the drive for the men and women that will come after you to do just like you did and serve the United States of America and that is my mission to make sure we still reach out and enlist the good men and women of integrity that will put their lives on the line on behalf of not just their fellow Americans but what this country promises to be and we celebrate 250 years next year of the United States of America and if we're going to continue to be the greatest country on the face of this earth it's going to take people like you coming behind you that are inspired by you so this afternoon we are going to pay tribute to the men and women who served specifically during the Vietnam war and the Vietnam era yours was a generation that faced one of the most difficult and complex conflicts in our nation's history you served in jungles, rice paddies, skies and seas halfway across the world in a country the size of New Mexico yet filled with unimaginable challenges you endured monsoon rains relentless heat uncertainty every day you flew helicopters through enemy fire provided life-saving medical care under impossible conditions and stood shoulder to shoulder in a noble and valiant effort in service to your country and to preserve freedom in this world nearly 9 million Americans served during the Vietnam era more than 300,000 were wounded over 58,000 gave their lives and most of them barely 23 years old and even now more than 1,600 remain missing in action your sacrifices cannot be measured by numbers alone some spent years as prisoners of war some never made it home and far too many who did return faced a country divided not with parades and gratitude but with silence often misunderstanding even at times hostility and that was an injustice that time cannot erase but one our nation must never forget and through all of that your courage never faltered your bravery was not only shown on that battlefield but in your resilience and in the quiet strength of rebuilding your lives and standing by your fellow veterans and ensuring enduring devotion to duty and that steadfast loyalty reflects the very best of the American spirit we pause to remember the fallen heroes the 58,000 names carved into black granite at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. each name tells a story of a promise kept a life cut short and a sacrifice beyond measure those names remind us that freedom is not free it is earned, preserved and passed on to our next generation by service and sacrifice like yours the Vietnam War left deep marks on our nation it tested our resolve divided our people at times and forced us to reckon with the meaning of service and sacrifice yet one truth endured the men and women who fought bravely and served this country regardless of the politics of the time deserve our unending respect and gratitude we must ensure no veteran service is forgotten or demeaned we must honor them not just with our words but with our actions by providing care building understanding standing united in our commitment to not only those who served but their families and I am reminded of a Vietnam veteran who was once asked if he ever regretted that service and he paused for a moment and then quietly responded I did my duty I stood by my brothers and I'd do it again that simple statement captures the heart of an entire generation a generation of warriors that were strong and loyal and true to that calling and true to their duty so today let us reaffirm our promise we will never forget your courage and those whose courage who never made it home we'll never forget that sacrifice we'll never forget the price paid to preserve freedom in this world and to all the veterans here from every branch every era thank you your strength and devotion continue to inspire all Americans it inspires my family and your legacy will endure for generations to come it is my great honor to stand with you on today Veterans Day to thank you honor you and to promise you that this nation will always remember what you did for us may God bless our Vietnam veterans may God bless all who have worn our nation's uniform and may God continue to bless our great United States of America thank you so much we did have a short video we were going to show but due to technical difficulties I guess we won't be able to do that so we'll go ahead and proceed into the pinning ceremony we will be pinning the survivor spouses first we have three of them in attendance I feel like I'm in boot camp Jeff surviving Edward unable to lift him Ginger surviving Philip surviving Nadja surviving Albert Blake not able to attend Diane surviving Mike veterans Martin Pete John Robert Bruce Denis Joseph Kamara Kevin John Cozy I think I know your son James Curry Joe Steve David Paul Robert Hughes Joey Jones John Chris Marty Monaco Jim George Bobby Michael Lindquist Joseph Lenny John Vince Monty Jim Robert Ronald William Randy Reagan Timothy Ray Elwood Fred Walter Richard Gary Williams Ron White Timothy Zornowski If y'all could please rise we celebrate these men and the women who have lost their loved ones they went way before some of us thank you for giving us the blessings that you blessed on us thank you for giving us the help to be here as we leave this facility today put your hands on us and keep us safe thank you for the senator and help her get on to her next location in a safe and easy manner amen well we were supposed to play god bless america on the tv since we're having technical difficulties anybody want to lead us in that? a little god bless america? god bless america the land that can desire and guide her through the darkness from above from the mountains to the prairies to the oceans white roof foam god bless america my home sweet home god bless america my home sweet home I'd like to take this time to thank the senator for coming with us and joining us today I greatly appreciate it I'd also like to extend a great thanks to our volunteers that helped us organize this there was a lot of work that went into it a lot of hard work and I really greatly appreciate those efforts that were put into it thank you everybody that concludes our ceremony the canteen will be open shortly the senator is going to take some questions from the press I believe