November 11, 2024

Duckworth Reflects on the 20th Anniversary of Her Alive Day, the Day She Almost Died—But Didn’t

In the last 20 years, the Senator has been a champion for historic laws that protect traveling mothers, clean up our drinking water and more

 

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement ahead of her “Alive Day,” the day she almost died in a shootdown that took both of her legs and partial use of her right arm:

“Tomorrow is the 20th anniversary of my Alive Day, the day I almost died in a dusty field in Iraq after our Blackhawk was shot out of the sky—but didn’t. I’m only alive today because my buddies—who thought I was dead—refused to leave my body behind. As our nation marks Veterans Day, I’m thinking of their heroism that gave me the opportunity to not only live, but live a life so much fuller than I ever imagined.

“I’m humbled by and grateful for the trust that my neighbors in Illinois have placed in me in the years since that day, which has given me the opportunity to accomplish more for my fellow Americans than I ever thought possible before being shot down. While I really would have been perfectly content retiring as a helicopter pilot, I’m deeply honored to have had the chance to champion laws that are improving the lives of traveling mothers and making air travel safer and more accessible, to author the law that is making the most significant federal investment in getting the lead out of our children’s drinking water ever, to work to expand our nation’s presence and interests in the Indo-Pacific region while bringing back significant investments and creating jobs here at home, and to help lead the charge to protect reproductive freedom and IVF in the face of Republicans’ anti-choice crusade—and so much more. I’m proud to have been able to continue giving back to the country I love, but as threats against our rights and freedoms continue to escalate at home and abroad, my life’s work—my new mission—is far from finished.

“So while I can’t fly combat missions anymore or help drag Soldiers from a burning Blackhawk if the worst should strike again, I will always keep using my current role—serving no longer from the cockpit but the Senate—to improve lives, support our Veterans and ensure our Armed Forces are the strongest they can be.”

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