Good morning ladies and gentlemen, and honored guests, especially Vietnam Veterans, whose service we honor today. I am proud to be a part of this important celebration, and I thank the u.S. Department of labor's, office of contract compliance, for inviting me to be your speaker today. People often ask me, as an Irish-Canadian born in Scotland, with no record of military service...

"Why are you so committed to the cause of American Veterans?" and I suspect that many of you may be wondering the same thing.

First, I have a long affiliation with an amazing group back home in Canada called the War Amps - which is short for amputees. founded after World War I, when so many soldiers came home missing limbs, the War Amps have been healing the bodies and minds of Canadian Vets ever since.

Also, because I am grateful for the freedoms I have - secured for me by Veterans and active servicemen and women. as the son of a World War II Veteran, I learned that service and honor should remain even after a Veteran has retired his uniform.

Today we put to rest forever the undeserved image of the Vietnam Veteran. I enthusiastically join the department of labor in recognizing the Vietnam Vet as an important part of this nation's work force.

And as a working-class child of the 1960's,I remember especially those young men and women who were separated from me by only a few years... who answered the call to service, just as young Americans have done for 225 years. the Vietnam war changed an entire generation of Americans. perhaps only now, twenty-five years after the last american left Vietnam, are we truly able to appreciate just how deeply it has changed our lives.

Today we celebrate the very real commitment of a Government to those who served it with honor, with bravery, and with decency. today we mark a milestone for a generation of Veterans who answered the call in spite of the tide of negative public opinion which only intensified while they were away in combat, and greeted them harshly when they returned home.

It's also worth noting that Canadians and Americans stood shoulder to shoulder not only in Vietnam, but in all of the great wars and conflicts of the 20th century, and that by serving together, we created a family of brothers and sisters which knows no border.

Most deeply changed by war of course, are those whose loved ones never came home, whose loved ones made the supreme sacrifice, and lost the opportunity to hold an infant, grow old with dignity, and share in the prosperity they guaranteed for all of us.

My belief in society's responsibility to Veterans, and my confidence that all Veterans have a positive contribution to make, have driven my own work with Veterans. I should also acknowledge the influence of the many remarkable friends i've made in the Veterans community... friends like Tom Kelley, a Vietnam Vet and congressional medal of honor winner, who is now the commissioner of Veterans' services in my adopted home - Massachusetts... and friends like Tom Lyons a Vietnam Vet and proud marine, who is now executive director of the New England shelter for homeless Veterans in Boston. these are my heroes who are demonstrating that service does not end with an honorable discharge.

Too often in the rush of life, these people are forgotten... their contributions to our freedom ignored. we forget too easily... and we cannot. That is why I have dedicated my time to honoring Veterans and military employees.

My first experience with the proud community of American Veterans came through my friend tom lyons. over two years ago, tom introduced me to the dc housing authority and the U.S. Department of Veterans affairs. the unique partnering of these two agencies has produced a vital new option for DC-area Veterans on the road to self-sufficiency.

Obviously, employment was an important step for Veterans making the transition back to civilian life in 1975, and it's an important step for Veterans making the transition from homelessness, addiction, and other illnesses today.

Of all the accolades and awards i've received throughout my career, I have to say my greatest honor was the opening last year of McDermott house, a transitional housing cooperative for Veterans in Washington, DC.

Mcdermott house is a place where once homeless Veterans can receive the support and services they need to take the next step... into permanent housing, into a new job, away from helplessness and addiction. McDermott house provides an address to a community of up to 30 American Veterans, so they can be assured of the benefits they have earned through service. those qualities of service and perseverance will serve us all well as we help put Veterans to work.

It is my firm intention to partner with other organizations and agencies across the country to create similar facilities that will help ensure all Veterans have access to the dignity they deserve through shelter, employment and other services.

Toward that end i've established a nonprofit foundation in my Mother's name - the hope McDermott fund. when my mother passed away in January of this year, i realized just how much I had learned from her about courage and compassion, qualities in no short supply in this country's Veterans' community. my mother also taught me the importance of remembering - as she often related stories about her brother, michael, who died of cholera in a Japanese prison camp in World War II.

In my travels i've met thousands of women - Veterans, and the loved ones of Veterans - through organizations like the gold star mothers and gold star wives, women who have been touched by war... and I am convinced that america's proud tradition of military service owes a great deal to women. the Hope McDermott fund is my way of acknowledging that debt... thank you.

... And on this day, thank you especially to Vietnam Veterans, whose contributions to this great nation will be measured for generations to come.