[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 91 (Tuesday, June 6, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1161]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


          STATEMENT IN RECOGNITION OF 2D LT. REBECCA E. MARIER

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                           HON. SUE W. KELLY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, June 6, 1995
  Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker I rise to acknowledge and salute the 
outstanding achievements of 2d Lt. Rebecca E. Marier. This impressive 
young woman recently graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in West 
Point, NY at the top of her class--top of her class academically, 
physically, and militarily.
  Second Lieutenant Marier opted to forgo an education at prestigious 
Harvard University, in order to pursue her dream of a degree from an 
institution which has a proud tradition of molding our Nation's 
leaders. Marier is unquestionably a role model for all of our Nation's 
young people, men and women alike.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and all my colleagues join me in not only 
commending Second Lieutenant Marier's achievements, but more 
importantly her spirit of selfless dedication to the service of our 
country. I would also ask, Mr. Speaker, that the New York Time's 
article which appeared this past Sunday, noting Second Lieutenant 
Marier's achievements, be inserted at this point in the Congressional 
Record.
                [From the New York Times, June 4, 1995]

                   Woman is No. 1 in West Point Class

       West Point, NY--For the first time in the United States 
     Military Academy's 193-year old history, a woman took the No. 
     1 class rank as the Academy graduated 988 new members of the 
     Army officer corps today.
       The woman, Second Lieut. Rebecca E. Marier, 21, of New 
     Orleans, was the head of her class in the school's three 
     programs--military, academic and physical.
       ``It was the greatest feeling in the world, throwing up 
     that white hat,'' Lieutenant Marier said after the ceremony. 
     ``I'm just glad to be part of the progress women are making 
     all over the country.''
       Four years ago, she startled her family and friends by 
     choosing the Academy over Harvard University for her 
     undergraduate work because she wanted the ``all-around 
     challenge'' and leadership training West Point offered.
       But she plans to get to Harvard, after all, becoming the 
     second cadet in West Point history to go on to medical school 
     there, said Andrea Hamburger, an Academy spokeswoman.
       Women began attending West Point in 1976, and with today's 
     class, more than 1,400 women will have been commissioned 
     second lieutenants.
       At the ceremonies, the Army Chief of Staff, Gen. Gordon 
     Sullivan, addressed graduates, telling them that in an age of 
     changing circumstances, there was no way to predict where 
     they might serve.
       General Sullivan omitted remarks about a possible United 
     States role in Bosnia, which had appeared in an advance 
     version of his address received by reporters.
       In the prepared text, General Sullivan reviewed the 
     American role as a member of NATO and said the United States 
     was ``prepared to act with NATO should the need arise.''
       Pressed afterward for an explanation of the omission in his 
     speech, he replied: ``I felt I had made the point of the 
     uncertainty of the world. I didn't think I needed to go into 
     the details.''
       General Sullivan's advance text read:
       ``In response to the appalling Bosnian Serb behavior over 
     the past week, we have been meeting with our NATO allies to 
     consider the next steps to keep the U.N. protection force in 
     place, because it remains our best insurance against an even 
     worse humanitarian disaster there.
       ``Although our policy remains that we will not become 
     combatants in the conflict, we are prepared to act with NATO 
     should the need arise.''
     

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