[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 35 (Thursday, March 24, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 24, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                      A SALUTE TO VIETNAM VETERANS

                                 ______


                         HON. MICHAEL BILIRAKIS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 24, 1994

  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, a very special event will be taking place 
in my district next month. Hillsborough County Friends of the Parks and 
Veterans Memorial Musuem Committee are hosting ``A Salute to Vietnam 
Veterans'' at Edward Medard Park.
  This week-long salute is to honor all Vietnam veterans and will 
include the Moving Wall. This event is dedicated to Vietnam veterans 
and their families.
  The Moving Wall is a 1/2 scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans 
Memorial in Washington, DC. The Moving Wall is 250 feet long and 
contains the names of 58,191 Americans killed during the Vietnam war. 
Approximately 1,300 of these service members are still unaccounted for 
prisoners of war [POWS] or missing in action [MIA].
  The Moving Wall is a powerful symbol. Hundreds of thousands of people 
across the country have visited it in or near their communities. As of 
January 1, 1993, the Moving Wall has been displayed in 315 communities 
throughout the United States and Canada. Requests to have the Moving 
Wall have come from as far away as Australia, Ireland, and Germany.
  I am proud to say that on the four previous occasions when it has 
been displayed in Florida, approximately 300,000 Floridians have 
visited the Moving Wall. During the 2-day ``Salute to Vietnam 
Veterans,'' 50,000 people are expected to visit the Moving Wall.
  I would like to take this opportunity to commend the organizers of 
this great event. It is a stirring reminder of just how blessed we are 
in the modern world to live in a free society, and will not allow us to 
forget that this blessing is due to the sacrifices of our friends, 
relatives, neighbors, and countrymen who served us all when duty 
called.
  For as long as the American soldier stands ready to support his 
country and its allies, the forces of oppression and injustice will be 
held in check. For this, the American serviceman--the veteran--must 
never be forgotten.

                          ____________________