{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://morgangriffith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398364", "Griffith Statement Honoring America's Veterans", "2014-11-11", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "VA", "Morgan Griffith", "G000568", "morgangriffith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) today issued the following statement honoring America\u2019s veterans for their sacrifice and dedication to our country:\r\n\u201cI remain deeply grateful for America\u2019s veterans and their efforts to keep our country the greatest nation, preserving and protecting the freedoms we hold so dear.\u00a0\u00a0 May God bless our veterans and these United States.\u201d\r\n\u201cVeterans Day is a time set aside for our country to honor America\u2019s veterans, past and present, for their service and dedication.\u00a0 Whether or not they saw combat, whether they served overseas or at home,\u00a0\u00a0we can never fully repay the debt of gratitude we owe those who have worn the uniform of the United States for their willingness to sacrifice life or limb.\u201d\r\n\u201cEvery November, I am reminded of the fact that Veterans Day was established following the end of World War I, which many hoped would be the last conflict of this nature.\u00a0 Unfortunately, as we know, they were wrong about that.\u201d\r\n\u201cAs I reflect on Veterans Day and on World War I, I think about my great-Uncle Jim.\u00a0 When I was a boy, I would sit, fascinated, listening to stories told by Uncle Jim and others. \u00a0Uncle Jim was one of those brave Americans drafted into the United States Armed Forces during World War I.\u00a0\u00a0However, before his ship docked in England, the First Armistice was signed, ending the fighting and marking a victory for the Allied forces.\u00a0\u00a0He made the trip, but he didn\u2019t see combat.\u201d\r\n\u201cIt took months for Uncle Jim and his fellow troops to return to the United States.\u00a0But upon his return, he couldn\u2019t find his gold pocket watch.\u00a0\u00a0He looked and looked, and just couldn\u2019t locate it.\u00a0\u00a0Eventually, Uncle Jim said, his family confessed to him that they had melted his pocket watch down and made it into jewelry, having resigned themselves to thinking that he wouldn\u2019t return from the war alive.\u201d\r\n\"Not all who serve in our Armed Forces face direct fire from our enemies. \u00a0Others, while willing to face fire, are needed either in support roles or, like Uncle Jim, their 'boat' arrives too late. \u00a0But all make sacrifices. \u00a0Some give their lives.\u00a0 All give up time with friends and family. \u00a0And others give up things that don't seem quite as important but which are significant to them, such as a gold pocket watch. \u00a0And to all who have made those sacrifices, I say thank you.\"\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://morgangriffith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398364"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.0612369515001774, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}