VP Pence Emotionally Describes How the Korean War Affected His Father in Veterans Day Address

RUSH EXCERPT:

"As I close let me say, again, how deeply humbling it is for me to stand before so many heroes. For you see, as secretary shulkin told you, I am the son of a soldier and I'm the proud father of United States marine but my life never took me into the uniform of the united States. I've never experienced the cost of war on the battlefield or had to endure the hardship of time away from home and family that can come with service, even in peacetime. But I have seen enough to know the burden that our veterans bear is oftentimes a burden that lives far beyond your time in uniform. 64 years ago, my dad served in combat in Korea. Second lieutenant Edward J pence was in the U.S. Army, 45th infantry. He fought in the battle of old baldy and pork chop hill and he earned a bronze star for his courage under fire. The truth is, I learned most of that after I grew up because dad never talked about the war, and that medal stayed in his dresser drawer. A few years after he died I was visiting a cousin that he grew up with, on the streets of Chicago and he told me that the war had changed my dad. When I asked him how, he said, before the war your dad was the most happy-go-lucky guy I had ever met. But he said after he came back, he was different. And then he said words I will never forget. He said, and I quote, "I don't think your dad ever got over the guilt of coming home." "I don't think your dad ever got over the guilt of coming home." In those words, in an instant, I understood every unfinished sentence, every faraway look on my father's face whenever the war came up. If you talked about it at all, he talked about the guys he served with, guys that didn't get to come home to marry their sweethearts, raise a house full of kids, live their dreams and see their children's children. That's when I understood the quiet cost of freedom. And the burdens so many of our veterans bear in their hearts. So to all of our veterans looking on, know this. We are with you. You do not carry that burden alone. As a nation, we stand ready to help you shoulder that load with the compassion, support and prayers of the American people. You were there for us. Now, we are here for you. President Trump said this morning, in his words, America's veterans are this country's greatest national treasure. He said you're the best role models for our younger citizens, a constant reminder of all that is good, decent and brave. And to you, I say, no truer words were spoken. This is the land of the free because it is still the home of the brave and you, our veterans, are our brave."