A Message from Lt. Governor Brown

Today, this week, this month and every month, we honor the courage and sacrifice of our nation's veterans. The men and women who have served with honor and dignity in our name have defended our freedoms throughout every chapter of our history. This year, in the days after the tragedy at Fort Hood, Veterans Day is a solemn moment of remembrance. Words fail us during these times and we turn to prayer and seek comfort in the strength from one another.

While we mourn the fallen and offer our thoughts and prayers to their families, it is important that we also pay tribute to those veterans among us. Yesterday, I had the great privilege to join veterans from a "Century of Service" at the War Memorial Plaza in downtown Baltimore as we unveiled a new public outreach campaign to raise awareness about the many services available to our veterans and their families. That announcement is one of many veterans-related events Governor O'Malley, Mrs. O'Malley and I have and will participate in this week.

On Monday, I participated in the annual MCVET Veterans Day ceremony in Baltimore, joined veterans of World War II and the Korean War in Montgomery County for a ceremony honoring the service of our Greatest Generation and spent time with some of our wounded warriors at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, D.C. Today, I will take part in the Seat Pleasant Veterans Day Remembrance Ceremony, bring greetings at the University of Maryland Veterans Day Ceremony and attend the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 89 Veterans Day Celebration.

Governor O'Malley and Mrs. O'Malley will kick off the Guard and Reserve Institute Training this morning in Timonium. Later in the morning, Governor O'Malley and Mrs. O'Malley will join Superintendent of Schools Dr. Nancy Grasmick and Brigadier General James A. Adkins to launch a letter writing campaign thanking veterans, service members and military families for their sacrifice and service to our country.

We all hope you join our efforts and honor those who have served in your name. Time and again, our veterans have answered our call. This Veterans Day, let us answer theirs.

Best regards,
Anthony Brown
Lt. Governor
Colonel, U.S. Army Reserves