OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Veterans Day

Floor Speech

Date: Nov. 6, 2025
Location: Washington, DC

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Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, today, I come to the floor ahead of next Tuesday, which is Veterans Day, to recognize and share my gratitude to those who have all answered the call to serve the United States of America.

November 11 is the Federal holiday that we observe today as Veterans Day. It has not always been referred to as Veterans Day. Its origins come from the term Armistice Day, the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, which marked the end of World War I.

The holiday is often marked by tributes and other ceremonies to show our gratitude to our family, friends, and neighbors who have served.

In honor of Veterans Day, my office typically hosts a Veterans History Project event to collect stories from Iowa veterans and submit those stories to the Library of Congress to honor those individuals and their service for generations to come, also, so that researchers can hear the exact words spoken from the mouths of those veterans of what war is all about.

To date, I have submitted 95 stories from Iowa veterans to the Library of Congress. There are more Iowa veterans who wish to share their story, and I look forward to continuing my efforts to preserve those stories.

Normally, it would be this weekend at some major city in Iowa. I would ask veterans to gather so we can record their memories. Obviously, with the government shutdown, that is impossible for my staff to do, but we will continue that as long as I serve in the U.S. Senate.

I would also like to recognize that, this year, the day before Veterans Day marks the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Marines. On November 10, 1775, the Second Continental Congress established the Marine Corps. I have been fortunate enough to have a brother who served in the Marines in World War II. I have had a grandson in the Marines in the last 10 years.

For the last 250 years, the Marine Corps has faithfully defended our Nation with a distinct fighting spirit, and I am confident that the Marines will continue to do that.

Thank you to our dedicated marines and thank you to all veterans.

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