U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), the Senior Marine in the the U.S. Congress, today addressed a rally of veterans at the World War II Memorial. Thousands of veterans and their families are protesting the closure of the open air monuments during the government shutdown.

The House of Representatives has passed legislation to fund the Park Service and open the monuments.  Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev) has refused to bring that legislation to a vote in the Senate.  Senator Ted Cruz (R-Tex.), Senator Mike Lee (R-UT), and former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin also spoke at the rally.