This day of remembrance with our family and friends, things look a little bit different this year. Even though we wont have the same services and ceremonies that we typically take part in, it does not make this day any less important. Just like every year, this memorial day, lets commemorate the Service Members and families who have sacrificed in defense of our freedom. The freedoms we cherish but are so often taken for granted did not come without a price. For generations, american patriots have secured our blessings of liberty by willingly laying down their lives in defense of our great nation. Every fallen soldier leaves behind a grieving parent, child, sibling, spouse, or friend. These family members and friends never forget that knock at the door, the sound of taps, the loud thunder of the 21 gun salute or the touch of a folded flag once laid on a casket. Combat veteran who served in Operation Iraqi freedom, i know that the men and women in uniform who served bravely alongside the fallen never forget, either. I think of iowans like iraq war veteran Richard Myles whose picture i proudly display on my desk. Iowa Army National guardsman brent maher, james carney whose family our dear friends, just 22 years old, killed in afghanistan. Army Sergeant James jamie scalberg, jr. , died in combat in afghanistan at just 25 years old leaving behind his beautiful son who was not even a year old when he lost his father. Sergeant joseph millage was killed when a roadside bomb exploded near his unit as it searched for weapons in baghdad. And he was just 23. It was the knock that i gave on his mothers door to tell her that her son would never be coming back home. Command Sergeant Major marilyn gabbard, the woman in the iowa first Army National guard to be promoted to the rank of command Sergeant Major. Killed in iraq in a blackhawk helicopter crash. The stories and many, many more of these men and women of iowa are heartbreaking and heroic, and the very reason for a memorial day. For 23 years i served alongside the best of our nation, women and men who risked absolutely everything to preserve our great freedoms. And one of the many ways i pay tribute is through a ruck march. Every couple of months, that is until covid19, i would gather a group of people to go on a ruck march. I grab my rucksack filled with nearly 35 pounds of weight, i march down around the Washington Monument and back. These marches offer a time for us to remember and reflect on the service and sacrifice of those in our armed services. A couple of years ago i went on memorial death march in white sand, new mexico. This is 26 miles. Its a marathon in the desert with a 46pound rucksack, not my typical 35 pounds. And, folks, let me tell you it was exhausting. My feet were blistered. My legs were swollen and sore and my back ached for days after. There were times during that march that i thought i couldnt keep walking and i was probably dehydrated and just simply wanted to quit. But every minute and every mile was worth it because we were honoring the lives of the fallen, those that were on that bataan death march, and others who had sacrificed family, comfort, health, and in so many cases, their lives. March really put the meaning behind memorial day into focus. Now, while this weekend is a time to reflect on sacrifice and the lives lost, this entire month is military appreciation month. So i want to take just a minute to commend our Service Members. During this pandemic, our men and women in uniform have fought tirelessly against this invisible enemy, and they have been doing an outstanding job. For instance, our troops have stepped up to care for patients in hospitals and created deployable medical units such as the air force expeditionary medical system, Army Combat Support Hospitals and field hospitals, and Navy Expeditionary medical facilities. Members of our u. S. Air force have transported critical supplies around our nation, and heroes who are near and dear to my heart, our national guardsmen, have been working around the clock to disinfect public spaces, to hand out food, and provide transportation and logistic support. To all of our Service Members at home and abroad, thank you, and to their families and loved ones who also make tremendous sacrifices, we appreciate you and we support you. Because of the Ongoing Service of our military men and women, we will defeat this virus. Folks, on this memorial day and during military appreciation month, i pray we take time out of our lives, we pause, and we remember all of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice and the families and the friends and loved ones that theyve left behind. To all of our soldiers, airmen, marines, and sailors who never returned home, today we honor you. May god bless our troops and their families. Thank you, mr. President. I yield the floor. Mr. President , the senator from missouri. Mr. President , let me join my other colleagues in appreciation to senator ernst and her service, her service in iraqi freedom, her two decades of service of being ready and able to go whenever she was called to go and her continued service here and her appreciation for those who serve that she feels in such a unique way. As she pointed out, this is a different memorial day. Communities across missouri, across the country, have traditional events that long planned on memorial day. Memorial day every year looks a lot the same. It wont look the same very many places this year. If you did have a parade or an event planned, it was probably canceled weeks ago, and even with the best of effort probably not put together for monday, but it doesnt mean we dont have an opportunity and an obligation, in fact, to remember those that served. Become a time at least where i live in the middle of the country, maybe more southern in southern missouri than other places where memorial day really became a day to remember all those who have gone before us, those who passed along values to us, those who have done things that made life possible today. When i was growing up, sometimes we called memorial day Decoration Day because it was the beginning tradition of memorial day was to go and decorate the graves of soldiers after the civil war, and that continued. Memorial day became a time when families would go to cemeteries and youd sort of have the jean logical lesson gene gen ological lesson. Many family members who were here last year arent here today and wont be here on monday. Clearly the coronavirus pandemic has had a devastating impact on families. Its had a devastating impact on communities. Its had a devastating impact on lives, and as we support this memorial day, as we think about this memorial day, well be remembering a unique memorial day where so many have given their lives in a war that was different than other wars, to an enemy that was not easily seen, to an enemy that turned out to be deadlier around the world than any would have predicted. And thats part of memorial day this year. Part of memorial day is remembering the sacrifices that people have made. We also on this day want to remember the sacrifices that people have made to try to keep people alive in this virus, the sacrifices people have made to try to give care, to bring people out of the emergency room, to bring people off the ventilators, to do those things. It is in fact a unique memorial day. It is a memorial day where 75 years ago we were just finishing the incredible devastation, the devastating war of world war ii. V. E. Day ended the war in europe. 75 years ago today soldiers were fighting the battle of okinawa. Why us a few weeks d. Just a few weeks before that, two weeks before that, our country and our allies fought the battle of iwo jima. These were really the two last major battles of the pacific. One of the people who died at iwo jima was an 18yearold marine from bates county, missouri, named george phillips. An enemy hand grenade was tossed into the area where his squad had sought shelter. Private phillips shout add warning and threw his body on top of the grenade. Saves the lives of every other person there but gave his life to save theirs. For his actions that day, he was awarded the medal of honor. The citation was signed by another former missouri soldier from missouri, president truman, honoring that bravery, the kind of unhesitating bravery that has been so characteristic of american soldiers over centuries of understanding what it meant to defend your family, to defend your friends, to defend those serving with you, and in the case of our country, to be willing to defend freedom, to be willing to jump on the grenade, to be willing to do what was necessary to protect others. Weve seen many examples of that in the last year. Some of those examples were in the military. Others were in those who protect us in First Responders and police and fire and then many examples of people who risked their lives to save others in the virus that has attacked our country. We have a lot to think about this memorial day, a lot to dedicate ourselves toward as we look to a future where people continue to help others, to where people continue to give selfless lit, and for selflessly. And for those who have served in the military, to be willing to serve, to be willing to pay whatever price, and we stand in appreciation of that on this memorial day as we aprofess this weekend. And we approach this weekend. Mrs. Capito mr. President . The presiding officer senator from west virginia. Mrs. Capito thank you, mr. President. It is an honor for me to be here with mi fellow senators. I was very moved by senator ernsts recounting of not only her service but the service of so many iowans. And senator blunt as well from missouri reminding me what memorial day is for and how it is commemorated around the country for those brave soldiers from missouri. So we are getting ready to commemorate memorial day, and weld be doing it differently than we have in the past years, but its still just as important for us to honor the brave men and women of the United States armed services. They have selflessly served our country by standing up to protect the freedoms that we hold so dear and go into the line of fire in many ways. This memorial day is particularly momentous because 2020 marks the 75th anniversary of the conclusion of world war ii. He recall whyer in month on may 8, as earlier this month on may 8, we recognized victory in europe day, recognizing the end of the allies european campaign. In a few months, on september 2, we will recognize the 75th anniversary of japan signing its surrender, subsequenting ending the pacific war the Pacific Campaign and the war. During world war ii, the United States lost over 400,000 soldiers who were fighting to uphold our values and defend the liberties of those abroad as well. As the daughter of a proud world war ii veteran myself, i had the chance to hear firsthand the acts of valor that my father, sergeant arch moore, witnessed on the battlefield. I also had the honor to travel to election umberg and belgium to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the battle of the budge. My dad was wounded in the herdigan force. Only three of the 36 men made it out alive. I think about those 33 men and their families on this memorial day. Being able to attend those ceremonies and to honor all the soldiers who fought during the battle of the bulge is a humbling experience i will never forget and some of them returned to commemorate that occasion, most of them in their 90s. The efforts of our Service Members in both the european and pacific theaters were great. A couple of months ago marked the 75th anniversary of the battle of iwo iwo gee m the United States marine corps and navy were able tote capture the island. While this marks the 75th anniversary of the conclusion of world war ii, we must also never forget all the americans who lost their lives in battle, whether it be the korean war, vietnam war, the first gulf war and the ongoing fight against terrorism in the middle east and all the conflicts that america has fought in. Our countrys Service Members, many of them have made the ultimate sacrifices to keep our liberties intact. I recently read a book called no surrender. You may have heard of t its a true story of his father Roddy Edmunds who risked his life during the final days of world war ii to save others from the nazis. His heroic duty saved i think thousands of lives. He was captured and sent to a p. O. W. Camp in germany. He risked his life to prevent hundreds of others from nazi persecution and possible death. But at the same time, he witnessed horrific acts and he also witnessed many, many of his fellow soldiers losing their lives in the name of freedom. The members of the United States military have always put our Country First and will continue to do so to keep our flag flying high. And Roddy Edmunds was a perfect example of this. West virginians have always believed in putting our country and state first and i am proud of all the men and women of my state, of which we have a large percentage of men and women who have answered the call of duty. It is sad that we will not be able to come together to honor the brave efforts of the men and women in our country who have given the ultimate sacrifice in service. But i know welcome together in spirit. While we might not have the usual parades and bar beus could that we have become accustomed to, we can use this time to reflect on the sacrifices made by our armed forces and their families. I encourage everyone to take the time to remember those who lost their lives searching our country. Serving our country. Memorial day is often considered the first unofficial day of the summer but really it is a time to remember those who made america the great country it is today. On monday, take the time take a moment to pray for those Service Members who have lost their lives fighting for this country and for their families as well. For the children who are out of school, take time to learn more about the men and women who came before you and defended this country and its values. I want to say thank you to all those who have served, all those families who have lost. Your sacrifice has not gone unnoticed and we are forever grateful. I yield back. A senator mr. President. The presiding officer the senator from north dakota. A senator thank you, mr. President. I rise with my esteemed colleague from west virginia, colleague from missouri and others to remember to commemorate and honor those who have given their lives and service to this country. Mr. Hoeven those who have fought and died for our nation, secured our freedoms. And we are forever indebted to them. That includes many north dakotas who gave their lives. These Fallen Heroes served in world war i, world war ii, korea, vietnam, iraq and afghanistan. While we set aside a day each year, memorial day, to honor those who have given their lives on behalf of our nation, every day were reminded of the dedication and sacrifice of those who served to protect our freedoms and liberty. We must never forget those who have made the ultimate sacrifice as well as those who are missing in action. Thats why in 2014 i supported legislation to create the defense p. O. W. M. I. A. Accounting agency. This d. O. D. Agency seeks to locate the nearly 82,000 missing Service Personnel so we can bring them home and provide answers to their families. We also recognize that those who served do not serve alone. Friends and family of those in the service of our country also serve, and those who have lost loved ones know well the cost of freedom. As fellow americans, it is our duty to ensure their survivors are taken care of and that these heroes are never forgotten. We can better uphold our promise and honor to those who made the ultimate sacrifice by providing their fellow Service Members, veterans, and their survivors with the Health Care Benefits and recognition that they have earned. Thats why we continue to work with the department of veteran affairs as they implement the v. A. Missions act which gives our veterans more options to seek care in their home communities. That includes providing them with access to longterm and nursing home care closer to home. Last fall i also helped to dedicate the Fargo National cemetery, the first v. A. National cemetery in north dakota. We worked to secure this cemetery because its presence allows North Dakotans who have served to be laid to rest with honor while being close enough to their homes for family and loved ones to visit and pay their respects to our heroes. The new cemetery complements the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery in mandan operated by the state. To help support maintenance and operations, im helping introduce a bipartisan bill, bipartisan legislation, the Veterans Cemetery grants improvement act with senators tester, rounds, and reed, so that stateoperated veterans cemeteries receive the funding they need to ensure that all of our veterans can be laid to rest closer to their loved ones. Our Service Members and their families have given much in defense of our nation and our way of life. In the state of north dakota especially has a rich tradition of military service. With deepest appreciation and admiration, we look to the meaning of their Service Never forget to honor those who have passed and extend our gratitude to the family and loved ones left behind. May god bless those who have gone before, those who continue to serve, may he continue to bless this great country that they have served so very well. With that, mr. President , i yield the floor. Ms. Collins mr. President. The presiding officer the senator from maine. Ms. Collins thank you, mr. President. Mr. President , throughout america, we set aside memorial day to honor those who g