By State Representative Ross McGregor

The men and women in the United States Armed Forces endure great personal sacrifices while serving our country, and although we can never fully repay them for their service, we can honor them by never taking their sacrifices for granted or forgetting what they are fighting for. In celebration of Air Force Day and U.S. Coast Guard Day this month, I encourage you to take a moment to commemorate the risks that our servicemembers bear as they defend our freedoms abroad.

Air Force Day was founded on August 1, 1947 by President Harry S. Truman to commemorate those who have made our nation’s air strength the powerful force it is today. The Air Force has played an integral role in preserving the freedom and strength of our nation throughout history, and it is necessary that we thank the airmen in our communities for their contributions to our national security and aeronautical innovation.

U.S. Coast Guard Day memorializes the creation of the Revenue Cutter Service, which constructed cutter ships, on August 4, 1790. The Revenue Cutter Service would later become the U.S. Coast Guard, the military branch that safeguards our waters and shores. Today, the Coast Guard plays an especially vital role in homeland security, marine assistance, and search and rescue missions.

These military branches no doubt play a crucial part in maintaining the security and prosperity of our nation. As thousands of brave military members depart for deployment, their loved ones are left behind to face many challenges on their own. Here in the Ohio Legislature, my colleagues and I have worked to pay special recognition to our servicemembers as well as their families. House Bill 150 recently passed the Legislature and designates August as Ohio Military Family Month, in honor of Ohio’s military families. As a joint sponsor of this legislation, I am proud to highlight the contributions that military families make to our safety and wellbeing.

It is our duty as Americans to support those who fight for us oversees and to care for their families back home. August will serve as a continuing reminder of the sacrifices of the nearly 6,000 military recruits here in Ohio. Honoring our men and women in uniform through legislation is my greatest privilege as a state legislator, and I will continue to promote legislation that supports our military and the values for which they risk their lives to defend.