Today, we pause to honor the brave men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces. Their sacrifice reminds us that liberty is preserved by those willing to defend it, and we owe them our deepest gratitude.
I support a strong, capable military, one built to protect the American people and deter threats to our homeland. Strength, however, should not be measured by an endless budget or a willingness to start wars. America must be strong enough to defend itself, but wise enough to avoid unnecessary foreign entanglements.
We can stand in solidarity with people suffering in conflicts around the world, whether in Ukraine, Palestine, or elsewhere, without becoming agents of escalation. Providing weapons that fuel civilian suffering is not compassion; it risks turning us into complicit participants in violence. We should use diplomacy, humanitarian aid, and targeted measures to minimize harm to innocent civilians.
Before committing our service members to new conflicts simply because we have the capability, we must first fulfill our obligations to those who have already served. Far too many veterans still wait for timely medical care, mental health support, and economic opportunity. We must stop treating war like an abstract policy option and start taking responsibility for the human consequences.
This Veterans Day, let’s thank those who served, demand better care for veterans, and resolve to pursue peace whenever possible. That’s how we honor service, with gratitude, with stewardship, and with the humility to use force only as a last resort.
