Senator Jerry Moran’s (R-Kan.) recent speech on the Senate floor is a reminder that each and every person is individually affected by veterans.
While speaking about the VA scandal Thursday, Moran brought up his own father, a veteran. Moran was reminded of his first visit to the World War II Memorial.
“I have a 98-year-old father home in Plainville, Kansas, a World War II veteran. I walked up to the World War II Memorial 10 years ago, just a few days before it was being dedicated, and I wanted to see what it was going to look like. It was an inspiring moment,” said Moran.
While at the Memorial, Moran walked to the Kansas pillar and thought about his own dad’s service. He pulled out his cell phone to make a call.
“The message I delivered to my dad that day was: ‘Dad, I am at the World War II Memorial. It is a memorial built for you. Dad, I want you to know that I thank you for your service. I respect you and I love you,” Moran emotionally said.
Moran joked that his message “took place on an answering machine and not in person.” He also remarked it “was easier to deliver” that way. Moran noted that his dad called back a few minutes later.
In his final sentences Thursday, Moran stressed that this story was not one to just honor his dad, but rather to remind the Senate and the American people that veterans deserve our utmost appreciation.
“The point I want to make is, we are called upon as American citizens and certainly as members of the Senate to do all that is possible to demonstrate that we thank our veterans for their service, we respect them, and we love them,” Said Moran.
Moran concluded that “The Senate needs to rise to the occasion and not let the partisan politics of this place and this country divide us” in a way that neglects even our veterans, making reference to the on-going VA scandal.
There’s another element that makes Moran’s speech even more powerful. His father, Raymond Moran, passed away on Friday. His death came less than a day after Moran’s impassioned speech, but fittingly on the 70th anniversary of D-Day. The elder Moran joined the Army in 1942. He served as a Staff Sergeant in North Africa and Italy during WWII. He was laid to rest Tuesday.
Watch Moran’s floor speech below:
(h/t Roll Call)
