[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 46 (Monday, April 25, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: April 25, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                  NATIONAL FORMER POW RECOGNITION DAY

  Mr. RIEGLE. Mr. President, I rise today in honor of the brave 
Americans who have been held a prisoners of war by foreign powers. It 
is these soldiers who often endure the greatest suffering in any armed 
conflict, and we as a nation owe them our deepest gratitude for the 
sacrifices they make for their country. As a tribute to these men and 
women, April 9, 1994, has been designated ``National Former POW 
Recognition Day,'' and I am pleased to join in honoring them for the 
courage and valor they have displayed under the worst of circumstances.
  During World War I, World War II, and the conflicts in Korea, 
Vietnam, the Persian Gulf, and Somalia, more than 70,000 Americans were 
taken prisoner and suffered cruel and inhumane treatment at the hands 
of their captors. Pictures of captured Americans broadcast on TV and 
stories of their fate have, in recent times, galvanized the Nation. 
Even in times of relative peace we must continue to remember the 
sacrifices these soldiers have made in times of war.
  I am proud to be a cosponsor of the Senate resolution commemorating 
this important day. I am proud of the many other initiatives the Senate 
has taken in support of former prisoners of war, including support for 
improvements in their health benefits, as well as coins, flags, and 
stamps commemorating their service.
  Despite the reverence we hold for our former POW's, the unresolved 
issue of the nearly 2,000 Americans who have not returned from Vietnam 
continues to haunt us. We have not been entirely successful in 
determining the fate of these soldiers due, in part, to the 
uncooperative stance of the Vietnamese Government. This year I 
supported an amendment requiring certification that the Vietnamese 
Government has fully disclosed all available information regarding 
American POW/MIA's before trade sanctions are lifted. Although this 
legislation failed in the Senate and President Clinton has lifted the 
trade embargo, we must recommit ourselves to determining the fate of 
every missing American soldier in Southeast Asia.
  Mr. President, all POW's, those who returned and those who haven't 
continue to hold a special place in our national consciousness. Their 
courage and bravery stand as a true monument to the American spirit. 
All Americans pay a price when the United States becomes involved in 
armed conflicts overseas, and prisoners of war symbolize the sacrifice 
we make as individuals and as a nation. As we commemorate the 
sacrifices POW's have made for their country, let's be mindful of the 
tragedy inherent in any armed conflict and increase our efforts to 
resolve future conflicts peacefully.

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