Press Releases

Today, Rep. Phil Roe M.D. (R-Tenn.), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, released a statement ahead of Memorial Day:

Below are his remarks:

Below are Roe's remarks, as delivered:

This Monday, we will be home - most of us celebrating Memorial Day with our family and with our friends with barbeques and cook-outs. But I want you to take a few moments to reflect on what Memorial Day actually means.

For me, it is one of the most difficult days of the year.

I am an Army veteran. I served in Korea in 1973 and 1974 and I reflect back to the Vietnam War and the friends that I lost there.

One in particular is First Sergeant Thomas E. Thayer, who was my Scoutmaster.

He did not get to celebrate any more Memorial Days after 1965 when we was killed.

I want you to reflect on friends or family that you may have known that paid the ultimate sacrifice and thank them for allowing us to celebrate freely in this country on Memorial Day.

Have a great, prosperous, and happy day.