it is a creed as old as our founding, "e pluribus unum," that out of many, we are one. we are reminded that this creed, and america itself, was never an inevitability, but the result of ordinary people in every generation doing their part to uphold our founding ideals -- by taking the blessings of freedom, and multiplying them for those who would follow. as president kennedy once wrote, even as we give thanks for all that we've inherited from those who came before us -- "the decency of purpose, steadfastness of resolve and strength of will, for the courage and the humility, which they posessed," we must also remember that "the highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them." today, we are grateful to all americans who do their part to live by those ideals, including our brave men and women in uniform overseas and their families, who sacrifice so much to keep america safe. to our service members who are away from home, we say an extra prayer for you and your loved ones, and we renew our commitment to take care of you as well as you've taken care of us. we