Senator Inhofe thanks Oklahoma troops -- past and present Published July 2, 2008 By Senator James M. Inhofe United States Senate WASHINGTON, D.C. -- To our Oklahoma Troops -- As we mark the 232nd year of America's independence, we remember the sacrifices so many brave men and women have made. Tens of thousands of Oklahomans have served to protect our nation in our century of statehood. The opportunity to represent you in Congress is a privilege that humbles me every day. You are volunteers from every corner of our great state. You are our mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers; our aunts and uncles; our sons, daughters and grandchildren. You are our cousins and you are our neighbors. You are this nation's greatest asset and you are an inspiration to me and millions of grateful citizens. We owe you our gratitude, our respect, and our very lives. I have watched you while you trained and when you said goodbye to your families as you deployed. I have seen you in Iraq and Afghanistan fighting an enemy who does not value life and is afraid of liberty and the freedoms it guarantees. You keep our nation safe and are the beacon of freedom throughout the globe. You do this not only through combat operations, humanitarian relief efforts, and joint exercises, but also through the ideals you personify...honor, integrity, selflessness and courage. To the families that support you in your arduous task both at home and abroad, I promise that I will do everything in my power to ensure that you are cared for and supported. To the veterans that have made our nation the strong and proud country it is now, I promise to always fight to ensure that your sacrifices are forever remembered and that your legacy is secured by the best equipped and trained force in the world. It is easy for us as citizens of this great nation to take for granted our God-given rights. In our daily routines, we all too often overlook the selfless commitment that you, our military service members, are making to protect our national interests and freedoms around the globe in over 120 countries. But that is why you have chosen to serve. So that the world will be a better place and our children can be free and live in peace. As we come together as Americans to celebrate the birth of a nation that has changed the course of humankind for the better, we salute all soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines...past and present. We salute those we've lost and those who still stand by our side. I wish each of you a Happy Fourth of July. God bless you and God bless America. Sincerely, James M. Inhofe United States Senator