[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 88 (Thursday, May 25, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1130-E1131]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                            OUR NATION'S FLAG

                                 ______

                        HON. GERALD B.H. SOLOMON

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 25, 1995
  Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I testified before the House 
Judiciary Committee on an amendment I am proposing to protect our 
Nation's flag. This matter is very dear to my heart and to the hearts 
of many Americans. The American flag always brings our nation together, 
rich or poor, in good times or bad. This symbol is recognized the world 
over for the good that we have done and will do as long as we have this 
flag. Do we, as Americans, really believe that the passage of this 
amendment to protect our national symbol will, in any way, harm or 
detract from, the Bill of Rights and the U.S. Constitution? I say no, 
this amendment does not remove rights, it restores them.
  I can recall scenes I have seen from Civil War battles where Union 
soldiers would drop their weapon and pick the Stars and Stripes off the 
ground from a fallen comrade who had been killed holding up these 
colors for America. Mr. Speaker, now is our time to pick up the 
American flag and treat it with the greatest amount of reverence.
  I would like to draw your attention to the remarks of one American 
who has picked up the flag and who is carrying and protecting our flag 
for many Americans. Ron James, an ex- [[Page E1131]] Marine and 
patriot, has been an example and a role model to many Americans who 
have the deepest respect for America's symbol and should be commended.
       I am a member of the Citizens Flag Alliance, a Marine 
     Veteran and a United States Citizen.
       While on the show, I was read a telegram alleged to have 
     been written by Senator Bob Kerry, or one of his aides, on 
     his thoughts of not defending my right to have the U.S. 
     Senate pass Resolution 31.
       He speaks before the Members of the United States Senate as 
     a United States Senator. He does not speak as a private 
     citizen or as a voter and he does not speak as a Veteran. He 
     speaks as a Representative of the people of these United 
     States. The majority of the People of the United States want 
     this Amendment passed. As do the people in his own home 
     state.
       In that telegram, he mentioned that he was a Navy Seal in 
     Vietnam. At the time he was in his mid-twenties. I am 
     positive that his opinion at that age would be to defend the 
     Flag of this Nation and it would be the same feeling of all 
     his Comrades.
       Then how, since for about 100 years until 1989 there have 
     been laws to protect the Flag of the United States and this 
     had nothing to do with changes in our Nation, can he say 
     that, in essence, our Flag does not need this Protection 
     Amendment.
       On that television show, there was another guest speaker, 
     who would allow the burning, who kept insisting that we 
     should not ``amend our Bill of Rights''. What she apparently 
     forgot was that those original Bill of Rights were the first 
     ten Amendments to the original Constitution of 7 Articles and 
     were declared in force on Dec. 15, 1791.
       Also, she would have done well, as should anyone against 
     this Amendment, to read the preamble to that Bill of Rights.
       No Veteran was ever told that he would protect the Right of 
     someone to urinate upon, burn or otherwise desecrate the Flag 
     he had sworn to protect and defend and honor.
       Senator Kerry feels that there is no need to pass this 
     Resolution because of the few incidents that may occur. My 
     reply to that is that incidents will always occur and can 
     increase in tremendous numbers. But that does not make flag 
     desecration acceptable without accountability for those 
     actions.
       All any of those opposed to this Resolution need to do is 
     to actually read the content and purpose of all those 
     previous Amendments.
       So . . . all of you who speak against this Amendment . . . 
     who are you really speaking for???
       Certainly not the Navy Seals, not the U.S. Marines, not the 
     Army, not the Navy, not the Air Force, not the police and, 
     most importantly, not the nearly 260 million American people 
     and their representatives in both the State assemblies and 
     State Senates. All these Americans want the flag protection 
     resolution passed at the Federal level!!!!
       You, at the Federal level, who are opposed to this 
     Resolution . . . why don't you ask your own Constituents in 
     your home States to vote on this??? You already know what 
     they want!!!
       So, just who do you represent by your opposition to your 
     own people's will????? Not most of America!
       The American Flag always brings our Nation together, rich 
     or poor, in good times or bad. This Symbol is recognized the 
     world over for the good that we have done and will do now and 
     forever for as long as we have this Flag and the Honor and 
     Respect for it that it so richly deserves. Do we, as 
     Americans, really believe that the passage of this Amendment 
     will, in any way, harm or detract from, the Bill of Rights 
     and the Constitution?? I say no!!!!
       The Rights of all Americans guaranteed under the First 
     Amendment (the argument that opponents are using to stop this 
     Protection Amendment) have already been taking away by that 
     Supreme Court decision in 1989.
       This Amendment does not remove Rights . . . it restores 
     them!
       It does not remove the Rights of destructive scores . . . 
     but it does restore the rights of constructive millions!
       Please pass Senate Resolution 31 and House Resolution 
     79!!!!
       If you do not heed the generous voices of millions of 
     Americans then whose selfish voices do you heed????
       Search your hearts for that age when you were in the 
     service and not a Senator . . . when someone worried that you 
     may not be coming home at all. You and your Comrades felt 
     that Flag Desecration was wrong then and most feel that way 
     now which is why those same Comrades want this Protection 
     Amendment passed.
       I want to be heard in the Congressional Chambers but I 
     cannot because I am not a U.S. Senator or Congressman.
       However, I do represent millions of Americans who want this 
     desecration stopped.
       Honor those Comrades-in-Arms and those Citizens who have a 
     dedication to, and love for, this Naiton.
       I, personally have walked over 400 miles holding the 
     American Flag and have heard the cheers and cries of 
     Americans who also want their Flag Federally protected. I, 
     personally, have heard and spoken with thousands of Americans 
     as we walked through the land to Honor our Flag.
       The oldest man to walk with me (now 65) was a Marine 
     Veteran of the Korean War and survivor of the Chosin 
     Reservoir battle as well as being 100% D.A.V. One of the 
     statements made by him relative to Flag protection was: ``I 
     feel very strongly (about it) . . . it's something I believe 
     in. I lived for it. I fought for it and I'd die for it''. In 
     all of the time of the two walks (covering 2 years) he spoke 
     only once about that battle. It was in a Firehouse when we 
     stopped for a rest on the walk to Washington and where he met 
     another Marine who also had been there. They spoke of the 
     overwhelming odds of fighting off about 120,000 communist 
     troops against our nearly 15,000 in sometimes 60 below zero 
     weather. From this and other battles he somehow lived long 
     enough to walk for the Honor of the Amerian Flag 44 years 
     later. His son did years in the Marines and now is in the 
     Army flying helicopter gunships.
       If you can figure a way that we will not lose thousands of 
     lives in wars . . . lives which will be honored with and by 
     their American Flag . . . Fine!!! But it never can be. Honor 
     thy Flag as ``thy Mother and thy Father''.
       I, personally, have never sought harsh punishment.
       As a Representative of those who gave you the key to the 
     hearts of America by their vote for you and trust in you . . 
     . PASS THIS BILL!!
       Those who put you in office . . . the average persons . . . 
     trust them!
       Give them that which you already know they want . . . their 
     American Flag to be protected.
       Let it be said by all that, at least, this Nation protects, 
     reveres and honors its Symbol with, dignity, respect and 
     justice!
       If someone makes a mistake, the system in our courts will 
     not be harsh but they must be just.
       I thank you for your time and I hope you will pass the 
     Resolution in the Senate and the House of Representatives.
       Please pass on this information by reading any part of all 
     of it to our Senators and Congressmen on the floor of our 
     Congress.
       I thank you for our Nation.
           Always for Flag and Country
                                                         Ron James
     

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