My Caucus colleagues and I send our thoughts, best wishes and heartfelt thanks to the soldiers and officers of Task Force 3-09, who left for Afghanistan yesterday.

Our military members make tremendous sacrifices to serve our country and help others in need. Soldiers and officers who left yesterday will be away for six months. They will miss Thanksgiving, Christmas, and many other family celebrations. Accordingly, our thoughts and gratitude also go out to the military families who sacrifice time with their loved ones while they are away serving our country.

My colleagues and I wish our soldiers a safe mission and a swift return home.

David