[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 97 (Wednesday, June 14, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8304-S8305]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


         THE 220th ANNIVERSARY OF THE U.S. ARMY, JUNE 14, 1995

  Mr. THURMOND. Madam President, exactly 220 years ago today, a proud 
American institution was born, the U.S. Army. I rise today to not only 
recognize this important milestone in the history of the Army, but to 
pay tribute to all soldiers who have served their Nation, both in the 
past and in the present.
  For more than two centuries, America's soldiers have selflessly and 
successfully protected the freedoms and ideals of the United States, 
and America's soldiers have stood tall and fast wherever they have been 
deployed. From the Minuteman at Lexington with his trusty musket who 
started the fight for the independence of our Nation, to the G.I. 
equipped with night vision goggles, a Kevlar helmet, and the battle-
proven M16A2 rifle on patrol along the DMZ in Korea, our soldiers have 
always distinguished themselves. The battle streamers of the Army flag 
stand as testament to the courage, fortitude, and abilities of those 
who have fought under this banner: Valley [[Page S8305]] Forge; New 
Orleans; Mexico City; Gettysburg; Havana; the Philippines; Verdun; 
Bataan; North Africa; Monte Cassino; Normandy; Arnhem; the ``Bulge''; 
Pusan; Seoul; the Ia Drang Valley; Grenada, Panama; Kuwait, and, Iraq 
represent just a partial list of the places where ordinary men brought 
distinction to themselves, the Army, and the United States by their 
actions.
  We must also not forget the many other campaigns and operations the 
Army has undertaken in its history, which have included: surveying the 
uncharted west coast; protecting western settlers; guarding our 
borders; assisting in disaster relief; providing humanitarian aid to 
other nations; and conducting medical research that benefits soldiers 
and civilians alike. There is simply no question that the U.S. Army has 
had a tremendous impact, in many different ways, on the history of our 
Nation and the world.
  Soon we on the Senate Armed Services Committee will begin our mark up 
of the fiscal year 1996 defense authorization budget, including the 
money needed to support the Army. Often our focus is on what weapon 
systems we need to fund, how many new tanks, field guns, or rifles we 
should purchase, but our chief concern is always providing for the 
soldier. We work to ensure that the young E-3 has a quality of life 
that is not beneath him, and that the soldier who dedicated his or her 
career to the Army and Nation is not forgotten. Each of us on the 
committee, and I am sure in the Senate as well, understands that it is 
the people--the newest recruit and the most senior general--who make up 
the Army and guarantee the security and defense of the United States. 
We may have an arsenal of smart bombs at our disposal, but it is the 
soldier who must face and defeat our enemies. Ensuring they have the 
best equipment, training, and quality of life possible are our highest 
priorities.
  This investment in our men and women in uniform pays a handsome 
dividend beyond the security of the United States. Countless numbers of 
people who have served in the Army have gone on to hold important 
positions in both the public and private sectors. Our first President, 
George Washington, was a general in the Army, as were Ulysses Grant, 
Zachary Taylor, and Dwight Eisenhower. Additionally, many former 
soldiers have gone on to serve in the Halls of Congress. In the House, 
there are some 87 individuals who served in the Army and in the Senate, 
27 of our colleagues have worn the Army green. I know that each of us 
is proud of our association with the Army and that we have been able to 
serve our Nation as both soldiers and statesmen.
  Madam President, over the past 220 years, more than 42 million of our 
fellow citizens have raised their right hand and sworn to defend our 
Nation as soldiers. In each instance we have asked our soldiers to 
carry out a mission, they have done so with a sense of purpose, 
professionalism, and patriotism. We are grateful for the sacrifices 
these individuals have made and the example they have set for future 
soldiers. With a heritage as proud as the one established by our 
Nation's soldiers over the past 220 years, we know that the U.S. Army 
will always remain the finest fighting force that history has ever 
known.


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