AUGUSTA, ME –In honor of Memorial Day, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) spoke today at Maine Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery in Augusta. During his speech, Senator King paid tribute to America’s fallen heroes and honored the sacrifices of America’s veterans and their families. The annual event is put on in partnership with the Maine Veteran Coordinating Committee.

“Memorial Day is a time to honor the heroism of America’s fallen servicemembers, and to come together to recommit ourselves to forming a more perfect union in their memory,” said Senator King. “While we will never be able to fully repay the debt owed to our fallen heroes and their families, we can resolve to never forget the principles and missions for which they fought – denying the forces of tyranny and terror and ensuring that future generations can live in liberty and fulfill the promise of a better future. It was a privilege to join Maine’s veterans today to honor our men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice.”

Thousands of Maine citizens have given their lives in service to the Nation in America’s wars and conflicts, and today Maine is home to one of the highest rates of veterans per capita in the United States. This week, the Senate passed King-backed legislation to reverse a tax increase established in the 2017 tax bill that imposed an additional financial burden on Gold Star families.