VETERANS DAY 2001 MESSAGE FROM THE SECRETARY OF THE ARMY, AND THE ARMY CHIEF OF STAFF, FOR ALL ARMY ACTIVITIES AND ARMY FAMILY MEMBERS.

THE FOLLOWING IS A JOINT MESSAGE FROM THE HONORABLE THOMAS E. WHITE, SECRETARY OF THE ARMY, AND GENERAL ERIC K. SHINSEKI, ARMY CHIEF OF STAFF; FOR ALL ARMY ACTIVITIES AND ARMY FAMILY MEMBERS:

--VETERANS DAY 2001--

ON NOVEMBER 11TH, OUR NATION PAUSES ON VETERANS DAY TO HONOR THOSE AMERICAN MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVED OUR COUNTRY IN UNIFORM. THIS YEAR, TWO SHORT MONTHS AFTER SUFFERING THE MOST HORRIFIC ACT OF WAR IN OUR COUNTRY'S HISTORY, IT IS ONLY RIGHT THAT WE PAY TRIBUTE TO THOSE WHOSE SACRIFICES AND SELFLESS SERVICE PURCHASED FOR US THE PRIVILEGES OF FREEDOM, DEMOCRACY, AND UNMATCHED OPPORTUNITY THAT WE ENJOY IN THE UNITED STATES - THE GREATEST COUNTRY ON EARTH. FROM THE FIRST BATTLE OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION THROUGH OUR ONGOING WAR AGAINST TERRORISM, IN CONFLICTS THAT SHOOK THE FOUNDATION OF CIVILIZATION AND IN HUMANITARIAN MISSIONS THAT SAVED COUNTLESS LIVES, OUR VETERANS PROVIDED THE SWORD AND SHIELD THAT PROTECTED OUR NATION.

VETERANS DAY ALSO PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO THANK THE SOLDIERS SERVING IN THE ARMY TODAY, CONTINUING THE GREAT LEGACY OF THOSE VETERANS WHO MARCHED BEFORE US. YOUR DETERMINATION, YOUR READINESS, AND YOUR WILLINGNESS TO GO WHERE YOU ARE NEEDED, WHEN YOU ARE NEEDED, ARE POTENT SYMBOLS OF LIBERTY, JUSTICE, AND HOPE FOR FREEDOM LOVING PEOPLE THE WORLD OVER. THE MEMORY OF OUR FALLEN COMRADES LOST IN THE HORRIBLE AND UNPROVOKED ACTS OF WAR AGAINST OUR NATION ON SEPTEMBER 11TH IS A STARK REMINDER THAT OUR FORCES TODAY ARE, AS ALWAYS, ON POINT FOR OUR NATION.

EACH DAY YOU SERVE, YOU VOLUNTARILY FOREGO COMFORT AND WEALTH.

YOU FACE HARDSHIP AND SACRIFICE IN DEFENDING THE NATION'S SECURITY AND SPREADING THE BLESSING OF DEMOCRACY TO OTHERS IN COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD, FROM KOREA TO KOSOVO. YOUR ACTIONS IN A MULTITUDE OF MISSIONS-HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE, DISASTER RELIEF, PEACEKEEPING, WARFIGHTING-ANIMATE THE ARMY CORE VALUES: LOYALTY, DUTY, RESPECT, SELFLESS SERVICE, HONOR, INTEGRITY, AND PERSONAL COURAGE. YOUR SERVICE ENSURES WE NEVER FAIL IN OUR NONNEGOTIABLE CONTRACT WITH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE-TO FIGHT AND WIN OUR NATION'S WARS. YOU CONSTANTLY AMAZE US WITH THE STRENGTH OF YOUR DEDICATION AND YOUR UNWAVERING MORALE.

TO ALL OF YOU, WHETHER FAR FROM HOME OR HERE IN THE UNITED STATES, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS AND YOUR COUNTLESS SACRIFICES. IT IS AN HONOR TO SERVE WITH YOU, AND WE COULD NOT BE MORE PROUD OF THE GREAT WORK YOU ARE DOING. YOU CARRY ON THE LEGACY OF VALOR AND SERVICE THAT SOLDIERS BEFORE YOU ESTABLISHED.

AND SO ON THIS DAY OF REFLECTION AND TRIBUTE, OUR GRATEFUL NATION THANKS OUR VETERANS-THOSE WHO MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE FOR FREEDOM, THOSE STILL SERVING, THOSE NO LONGER IN UNIFORM, YOUNG AND OLD-FOR ALL THEY HAVE DONE AND CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR GREAT COUNTRY.

WE PLEDGE TO YOU OUR TIRELESS EFFORTS TO ENSURE THAT THE ARMY REMAINS THE WORLD'S PREEMINENT WARFIGHTING LAND FORCE, THE MOST ESTEEMED INSTITUTION IN THE NATION, AND THE MOST RESPECTED ARMY IN THE WORLD.