Brooklyn, N.Y. – Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke released the following statement in honor of those brave military patriots who gave their lives for our nation, to protect and preserve our way of life and the freedoms we cherish as Americans, on this Memorial Day.

“The men and women who have served this nation as members of the Armed Forces have earned our respect and our gratitude, as well as, our recognition of their ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation. Today, we commemorate their devotion to our Country and her people. Today we remember them and their families who have been left to mourn them and we share in their loss.

“As we reflect on our service members, who paid the ultimate price for our nations freedom, let us also be resolved to use our reflections as a motivation to do everything in our power to provide adequate support to all of our veterans. We have a moral obligation to get things right. We must demand reform of the Veterans Administration, starting with the elimination of the delays in obtaining veterans benefits; health care, employment and housing and by allowing those veterans who lack permanent legal status to become citizens.  We should not only honor our service members in Memoriam but also as celebrate or Veterans who are returning to a grateful nation.”

U.S. Representative Yvette D. Clarke is a member of the House Committee on Small Business, Ethics, and Homeland Security, where she is the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies. She represents many neighborhoods in central and southern Brooklyn, NY which include Brownsville, Crown Heights, East Flatbush, Flatbush, Gerritsen Beach, Madison, Midwood, parts of Park Slope and Flatlands, Prospect Heights, Prospect-Lefferts Gardens, Sheepshead Bay, and Windsor Terrace.