Mr. Speaker. I rise to honor the more than 69.300 legal permanent residents who are currently serving in the United States Armed Services. which represents 43 percent noncitizens and 5 percent of the armed services who are serving now. Their courage. their honor and their sacrifices prove what weve always known. that you dont have to be born in America to love America. Each and every person who serves in the Armed Forces generally loves his country and is willing to give their ultimate sacrifice. And these individuals gave their ultimate sacrifice for this country. for a dream of coming here. Each individual was prepared to lay down his or her life to protect what is sacred to all of us. hope. freedom and opportunity. not only for them. but for all of us who believe in this country. because we know ultimately every person who has served in our military has been willing to lay down their lives so that we can enjoy the freedoms. the freedoms that we have today. And the 69.300. 43 percent noncitizens. or 5 percent of the United States. believed in the same sacrifice as other individuals who have served us. They know that our freedom comes from men and women who are willing to serve this great Nation. When I look at the names of immigrant soldiers whove died in Iraq and Afghanistan. it makes me realize why America is the greatest country in the world. And when we look at those individuals who served in World War 11. the 500some thousand. how many of those were noncitizens and immigrants? And when we look at my district. or the State of California. 26 foreignborn soldiers from my State have given their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan. And they come from all over the world.
Keywords matched
immigrant noncitizens immigrants