SANTA ROSA, N.M. - U.S. Senator Tom Udall celebrated Veterans Day at a ribbon cutting event for the Guadalupe County Veterans Memorial and Community Center. The memorial and community center are the culmination of a years-long effort by Santa Rosa residents to honor New Mexico veterans and service members by repurposing the county's inoperative hospital.

Throughout his service in Congress, Udall has been a strong advocate for our nation's veterans. He has worked to improve access to health care and mental health care for New Mexico veterans, especially in our state's rural communities. He has championed incentives to help veterans transition from the military to school or the workplace. Udall co-wrote the bipartisan law creating a national Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pits Registry to help veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan who are suffering from illnesses as a result of exposure to toxic fumes from open air burn pits. And he introduced the bipartisan Rural Veterans Improvement Act to improve rural access to mental health care, expand transportation options in rural areas, and create incentives for doctors and nurses to practice in rural areas.

The following are Udall's remarks at the ribbon cutting ceremony:

Thank you George [Dodge]. I am deeply honored to be here with you all to help open this memorial to our veterans. And it is a beautiful memorial.

Today, we pay tribute to the service of veterans from Guadalupe County and across our state - those who are with us today, and those who have passed away.

Long before New Mexico became part of the United States - and long before some of our people were recognized as full citizens - brave men and women went to war to fight for our freedoms.

To our veterans with us here today, I say: we honor your sacrifice, and the sacrifice of your families.

George, I would like to recognize your service to our nation as a Navy veteran, and your service to our state as a legislator - and to your community as county manager, educator, and small businessman.

County Commissioners, thank you for making this day happen. I was pleased to work with you on the Community Development Block Grant that helped fund the project.

At last count, there were 441 veterans living here in Guadalupe County. That means there are 441 stories of individual courage, pain, and joy. That means there are 441 families who know what it means for a loved one to be far away. Often times far away at war.

Every one of your stories is different. And I would like to hear each one.

Now, whether you served in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, or National Guard, whether you served in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, or peace time, every one of you took on a mission larger than your individual self, to keep our country -- and our democracy -- safe.

And, when you return home, you continue to give and serve our nation. Veterans work in public service at a higher rate than the general public. Vets help other vets find employment. Vets volunteer and work to improve their local communities. We all know veterans make good employees. Your military experience required you to commit to the mission, to use and develop technical skills, and to work with a close-knit team.

Here in Santa Rosa and Guadalupe County, veterans work in the schools, local businesses, state and local government, and contribute to community life.

Could all veterans in the audience please stand or raise your hand as you are able so that you might be recognized? Thank you. This is your day. Thank you for your service.

Many veterans share experiences, but each generation of veterans faces its own struggles. Today, in rural communities like Santa Rosa, veterans face even more challenges accessing medical care and jobs. Veterans should not - I repeat - should not come home to a country where medical and mental health care is not adequate.

America makes a compact that we should consider sacred. When you sign up to risk your life for our nation, we sign up to provide care for you and your family.

You gave to the country. And the country must give back to you.

That's why I am proud to fight every day for veterans' health care and services as a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs. To improve access to medical care in rural areas, provide assistance to veterans' families, establish jobs programs for vets.

I was pleased to work across party lines to create a registry for veterans exposed to toxic chemicals from open burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is helping ensure veterans get adequate care - and putting us one step closer to finding cures for the diseases they suffered.

Last month, I fought to ensure Congress passed a bill that included some of my priorities for rural veterans - to improve health care for veterans and their families. And, I worked hard to bring the VA's Rural Veterans Coordination Pilot Program to New Mexico. For over two years, it has increased access to health care for veterans and their families in rural and underserved communities around the state.

I know Deputy Secretary Alan Martinez is here. And I want you to know I will fight to ensure that this successful federal funding continues for rural veterans of New Mexico.

This is progress, but there is much more we must do. John F. Kennedy said, GǣAs we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.Gǥ

Our veterans honored their commitment. You kept your promise. We must keep ours. Not just with our words on Veterans Day, but with our actions every day.

Thank you again for inviting me. I am honored.