WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall issued the following statement in celebration of Memorial Day:

"This Memorial Day, we honor the men and women in uniform who have given their lives for our freedoms, our democracy, and our way of life. Many of these service members were young men and women with their lives before them. We honor these courageous New Mexicans and all others who have died in defense of the principles and values that make our country great - including tolerance and respect for all races, creeds, and colors. And we recommit to ensuring that our most vulnerable are cared for, that the men and women of our Armed Forces and our veterans receive the honor they deserve and the benefits they have earned, and to working even harder in our own communities and in our own ways to defend our country's best values."