[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 69 (Tuesday, June 7, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 7, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                     THE ENORMOUS PRICE OF FREEDOM

  Mr. COVERDELL. Mr. President, I rise to join my colleagues, both in 
Europe and here, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the 
invasion of Europe by the Allied armies, officially celebrated this 
past Monday, yesterday, June 6.
  Mr. President, for anyone who was alive at the time of the invasion, 
it was a defining moment, something that had a profound effect on every 
American, whether they were coming out the landing craft, flying over 
Europe, or at home trying to grasp every straw of information, 
listening to every crackling radio broadcast, trying to understand the 
fate of the Americans and the Allies as they set forth to accomplish 
what, until then, had thought to be virtually impossible.
  As we try to remember the enormous sacrifice, which still leaves 
myself and I think most in awe of the courage and fortitude and 
commitment it must have taken to achieve the landing and the subsequent 
months of combat, it also crystallizes for each of us all that went 
before then and since.
  Somewhat a facet of irony, Mr. President, was that on the Saturday 
before the celebration, I had the occasion to visit Andersonville in 
the southwestern quadrant of the State of Georgia, where is located 
currently another national cemetery. And, like on the beaches of 
France, there are rows and rows and rows of markers, nearly 13,000--
12,980--from all the existing States of the Union, for those who died 
in a very brief period, who died in defense of the Union and of 
freedom.
  It is a very somber and sobering experience to be reminded by this 
beautiful monument, among the many that there are placed by the States 
of the Union honoring the fallen, but this is a particularly poignant 
one--about 20 feet tall, maybe 50 feet wide, an attractive woman, with 
two children at her knees, is pointing across the markers as if to say, 
``Remember what they have done. Remember what they have done.''
  And then on each side of the monument are two life-sized gentlemen 
who are in pensive reflection. My own interpretation is, they are 
guarding and musing in their minds on the enormous sacrifice,
  Many of the deaths were caused by the lack of appropriate food and, 
more importantly, fouled water. At the height of the calamity, there 
were some 35,000 Americans in a 26-acre area stockade. And at the 
height of the crisis, a huge thunderstorm came through the prison. And 
in the late evening during the thunderstorm, a spring actually burst 
forth from the land.
  Mr. President, one of the things we remember about Normandy so 
vividly is that, for some reason, it reinforced the individual's 
importance. Throughout this enormous logistical invasion, we have 
always remembered Normandy through the action of select individuals. 
And it has pointed out, as much as anything I have ever seen, that no 
matter how great the task, it is unattainable without the individual's 
commitment.
  Mr. President, I truly hope, for all the generations that have 
secured freedom and peace and quality of life in this country as a 
result of the enormous sacrifice, that the permanent sacrifice paid by 
these young Americans will be a vivid reminder of the enormous, 
enormous price of freedom. It comes very expensively.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  Mr. BROWN. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The absence of a quorum has been 
suggested. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. BROWN. Mr. President, I as unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. BROWN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to proceed for 10 
minutes in morning business.
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Is there objection? There being no 
objection, the Senator from Colorado [Mr. Brown] will be recognized for 
not to exceed 10 minutes.
  Mr. BROWN. I thank the Chair.
  (The remarks of Mr. Brown, pertaining to the submission of Senate 
Resolution 219 are located in today's Record under ``Submission of 
Concurrent and Senate Resolutions.'')
  (Disturbance in the visitors' galleries.)
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. There will be no demonstrations in these 
galleries of approval or disapproval.
  Mr. ROCKEFELLER addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from West Virginia [Mr. 
Rockefeller].

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