If there is any act in this world my children learn from I pray it is the sacrifice of those men and women who have laid beneath our beautiful flag. I have lost more brothers than I can count in our theaters of war, some of them in my arms. I remember them all like it was yesterday, and I wear many of their names on my wrist every day. These heroes left this world in the most honorable way anyone can: in defense of our nation.

I have been inspired every day by the Gold Star mothers, wives, husbands, sons and daughters in our community. They mourn, persevere and remember - always. They do not need us to tell them their sons and daughters were patriots, heroes, selfless defenders of our nation. They know the commitment better than any other ever could.

Since World War I, the Gold Star symbol has been used by American families to honor members of the Armed Forces who have given their lives in service to the nation, but the only Gold Star benefit currently defined in law is a lapel pin. We can and must do better!

Surviving families confront many challenges, often made worse by policies that fail to compassionately honor the memory of their sacrifice. For lucky ones like myself - the ones that came home - we have a commitment for life to ensure we have the back of those who gave everything having our back.

That's why this week I helped introduce the Gold Star Family Support and Installation Act. Watch this week's Week In Review video to hear more about our bill and my other work this week: