Marco Rubio Honors Vietnam Veterans

With the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the U.S.  Department of Defense (DoD) marking the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War on Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., thanked veterans.

“On this day, we honor and thank our nation’s Vietnam veterans for their service and sacrifice on behalf of the United States,” Rubio said. “Many brave American soldiers fought tirelessly during this long and costly war. They trudged through hot, humid and mosquito-infested jungles to confront the growing Viet Cong threat and support our country’s anti-communist efforts. Tens of thousands of U.S. soldiers lost their lives during the conflict, and others came home to a nation deeply divided.
 
“War is never a popular or easy endeavor, but this war was unlike any other our country had seen,” Rubio added. “It polarized the American people, led to social unrest, and returning veterans faced a shameful public backlash that made healing from their physical and psychological wounds even harder.
 
“It pains me to know that many Vietnam veterans were greeted with such hostility for their service, after sacrificing so much for our country,” Rubio continued. “Fortunately, in the years since, we've seen an American people largely committed to not repeating these errors of the past and welcoming our troops home irrespective of their support for the military mission. Our nation’s men and women in uniform are extraordinary examples of selflessness and courage. Today, let us pay tribute to them, their families, and all those who supported the United States during the Vietnam War. May God bless our Vietnam veterans and may God bless America.”