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Gov. Markell thanks veterans for their service and sacrifice in weekly message

Gov. Jack Markell is honoring veterans of America’s armed forces in his weekly message.

 

85 thousand veterans live in the state, and six thousand Delaware residents are currently serving in the military.  

“As we wish for the safe return of those deployed overseas, we must continually rededicate ourselves to ensuring that they have the opportunities they deserve at home: affordable housing, job opportunities and a good quality of life.”

 

Markell also reflected on this past Monday’s Memorial Day and the renaming of the Delaware National Guard headquarters to honor the late Beau Biden.

 

Biden died last year of brain cancer at age 46.

 

Markell says recognizing all veterans’ selfless service will propel Delaware forward.

 

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Full text of Gov. Markell's weekly message:

 

Each Memorial Day we honor the members of our armed forces who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.  Delawareans have fought, and died, since the earliest days of our nation, and they continue to make that sacrifice, including Warrant Officer Sean Mullen, of Dover, a Special Forces soldier serving in Afghanistan, who died three years ago when his unit was attacked by insurgents.  We remember these many fallen heroes whose lives were cut short and keep their families in our thoughts and prayers.

 

With Memorial Day’s passing it’s important that we remain committed to the spirit with which we pay tribute to them and all who serve in uniform.  Today, 85,000 veterans call Delaware home, and 6,000 of our men and women are currently engaged in some form of military service.  As we wish for the safe return of those deployed overseas, we must continually rededicate ourselves to ensuring that they have the opportunities they deserve at home – affordable housing, job opportunities, and a good quality of life.

 

This past Memorial Day, Delaware’s military community came together to dedicate our National Guard Headquarters for Major Beau Biden.  Beau was passionate about making our state and country a better place.  He enlisted during a time of war and he devoted his life to service, by deploying with his unit to Iraq and fighting for Delawareans as our Attorney General.  Naming this facility for him is an everlasting tribute to his service and to everything our National Guard represents. I have been honored to observe our National Guard and active duty military members supporting us abroad and at home in times of need. 

 

Memorial Day is over, but we remain forever grateful to each one of our service members for answering the call, recognizing that their selfless service keeps Delaware moving forward.