Veterans Day is America's way to acknowledge and thank over 26 million veterans who once served with honor, distinction, and courage in the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard. For more than 225 years America has counted on its military to defend our freedoms. Today, America faces new threats, but thanks to our men and women in uniform we will overcome any challenge while protecting the liberties Americans have always enjoyed. This holiday means different things to many people. For some, it is a time to remember fallen comrades and loved ones, who, although gone remain in our hearts forever. For others, it is a time to be grateful for those who returned from battle. I think of my own father, who was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. One of my earliest childhood memories was sitting on my Dad's shoulders watching veterans march in a parade. In honoring all those who served this Veteran's Day, I am reminded of the words of a hymn that we often sing at St. Mary's Church in Bangor that sum up the meaning of this day for me, "We remember. We celebrate. We believe." We remember the more than 100,000 American men and women who have died during conflicts in Korea, Vietnam, Lebanon, Grenada, Libya, the Persian Gulf, Panama, Haiti, Somalia, France, Bosnia, Kosovo, East Timor, and other places around the world. We celebrate the millions who came home. We believe in the liberties we often take for granted — free speech, press, religion, and elections. As the daughter of a Purple Heart veteran of the Second World War, I have always been devoted to the interests of America's returning heroes. We owe them a great deal — and in my public life I have worked to make good on this debt. Their overarching commitment to us is just one of the reasons I feel so strongly about protecting their interests in Maine. As I begin a second term in the Senate, I remain committed to working with veterans service organizations, administrators at VA facilities throughout the state, and with President Bush to ensure that Maine's veterans receive the highest quality service. The VA budget and veterans access to quality health care are very important examples of a variety of veterans issues that my office deals with every day. I am dedicated to helping them as effectively as I can, by staying informed of how Maine's veterans are doing in their communities and where they receive services, whether its Machias, Bangor, Togus, Caribou, or Rumford. In addition, I haven't forgotten the importance of their families. About one-third of Americans are eligible for VA benefits such as educational assistance, because of the military sacrifices of their loved ones. Protecting veterans' interests and those of their families is one way we can honor our veterans — those who have sacrificed so much. They have fulfilled their duty — let us honor them every day by striving to fulfill ours by doing everything possible to support our veterans as well as active military. In honoring our veterans, we can learn more from them than just duty and sacrifice. We can learn about service. Former president and World War II combat veteran George Bush remarked, "I believe that any definition of a successful life must include service to others. It's just that simple." Our veterans are an inspiration to all of us about what it means to serve others, and to have led a successful life.