Looking out over this beautiful cemetery, where thousands of our heroes and their families have been laid to rest, we must remember that even though we can never fully repay our veterans for their service, we must never stop trying.  Our veterans and their families have given us far more than we could ever give back, and our thoughts and prayers go out to the men and women who are bravely serving their country.  We all look forward to their safe return.

I grew up not far from here, and I know the kinds of people who live in Holly and in neighboring communities.  They are people with strong values, people who love their state, who work hard to support their families, and who always answer the call of service - whether that means putting on our nation's uniform, or lending their neighbor a helping hand.   Today, people across Michigan are answering that call.  From our Michigan National Guard troops deployed overseas, to our workers who are fighting the good fight here at home.

I want to talk about that call of service today, because the battles we are fighting today in Michigan are not the same wars that our grandfathers fought. The challenges we face aren't only on foreign soil.  They are outside our front door.  The stakes are different, but they are no less threatening.  They call for us to serve and to sacrifice, just as our veterans have done for generations before us.

It's clear today that our way of life is under attack on multiple fronts.  Will our hallmark industry be able to reform with the changing times?  Will our cities continue to be great places to live and safe places to play?  Will our natural resources be protected for future generations?  Will our children be able to stay in Michigan and raise their families here?

It is up to us to defend the things that have made Michigan the place where we can raise a family and pursue our dreams, just as our brave veterans have done each and every generation.  It's a different kind of fight, but it's a fight that also takes bravery, and resolve, and honor.  It's a fight that will determine the future of Michigan.

I've been in Michigan government a long time. I've seen our state go through ups and downs, through booms and busts.  But throughout our history, whenever we've been up against a wall, Michigan has fought back, and we have won. We have come back stronger than before. And I have every reason to believe we will again.

I know many of you are waging your own personal battles.  Against the stack of bills that never seem to get shorter.  Against the threat of cut backs and downsizing.  Against raising health care costs and the increasing cost of college tuition that keeps the doors of higher education closed for too many.
 
That's why we have to fight with all the weapons in our state's arsenal.  The dedication and resilience of the Michigan people.  The energy of our state's bright young minds.  The vast resources of our Great Lakes, which will be a vital component of our economic transformation.  The innovation and discovery of our top universities that prepare our next generation for the challenges ahead.

But our biggest asset is our unmatched quality of life.  Our vibrant cities, our arts and our culture, our friendly neighbors, and strong values. These are the things that brought our ancestors to Michigan generations before us, and the things that keep us here today. These are the things our soldiers have served and sacrificed - and many have died - to preserve.  And these are the things that we must fight for today.

This will take sacrifice and selflessness.  It will take dedication and persistence.  But most of all, it will take courage and strength of character, the kind seen in the halls of your local VFW post and in the hearts of the veterans with us here today.  This is the kind of leadership and heroism we must emulate in our own lives as we fight our own battles.

As we fight today's battles, we must also think to the future - to the children who will one day be the protectors of their own freedom.  Are we giving them the best education possible to ensure they are ready for the challenges ahead? Are we teaching them the values of citizenship and the importance of helping their neighbors?  And most of all: are we giving them the opportunities to grow into the next generation of public servants, lawyers, teachers, nurses, community leaders, and military leaders?

As our challenges have changed, so has the definition of service.  And while there is no greater sacrifice than serving in our country's armed forces, there are thousands of other ways to serve in times of need and in the face of danger.

We might not know what challenges will come tomorrow, but we know what we must do today:
Give our kids safe places to learn and grow.  Keep them healthy and happy.  Nurture their individual abilities and talents.  Cultivate in them a love for their communities and their state.  Give them the inspiration to be defenders of our freedom and our Michigan way of life, just like our men and women have bravely done for generations on battlefields around the world.

I know most of you here today know the story of Holly's own Lieutenant Karl Richter, a fighter pilot in Vietnam who flew his last mission at only 24.  Before his plane went down, he had hoped to one day return to the United States to help teach other pilots to fly future missions.  He believed it was his duty to pass on his knowledge and skills to the next generation.

Lieutenant Richter knew that the future was worth defending.  In his honor, there is a statue of him at Maxwell Air Force Base.  At its base there is an inscription from the prophet Isaiah.  It reads:

"Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Here I am. Send me."

This was the commitment and the courage Lieutenant Richter and every veteran has shown over the ages.  When times got tough, they didn't wait for others to act.  They said, "Here I am. Send me."  When the time came to fight, they didn't back down. They said, "Here I am. Send me."

We are in the fight of our lives here in Michigan, and we cannot wait for others to make sacrifices for us. We cannot step back and hope others will serve in our place.  When asked who will defend our Michigan way of life, we must stand together and say, "Here we are. Send us."

The future of our state depends on it.

God bless our veterans and their families, and God bless Michigan.

Thank you.