[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 98 (Thursday, June 15, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1264-E1265]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                     TRIBUTE TO ROBERT J. PATTERSON

                                 ______


                        HON. WAYNE T. GILCHREST

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 15, 1995
  Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute Mr. Robert J. 
Patterson, the man who was the driving force behind the New POW/MIA 
postage stamp. Mr. Patterson, a two-tour VietNam veteran, currently 
employed but the Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Center in Perry 
Point, MD, devote 5 years of his life toward honoring POW/MIA's with 
their own postage stamp. Mr. Patterson spent countless hours meeting 
with House and Senate staff members, VietNam Veterans of America, 
Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, disabled American 
Veterans, American Ex-Prisoners of War, as well as every veterans 
association medical center in the country. With these veterans groups, 
Mr. Patterson gather nearly 2 million signatures on his POW/MIA postage 
stamp petition form.
  Mr. Patterson's efforts proved successful when the U.S. Postal 
Service issued the new POW/MIA postage stamp on May 29, 1995. with the 
American flag as its backdrop, the stamp pictures a pair of military ID 
tags embossed with the words ``POW & MIA--NEVER 
[[Page E1265]] FORGOTTEN.'' The stamp serves as a fine tribute to the 
brave Americans who fought for this country and were either imprisoned 
by enemy forces or have been classified as missing in action. All of 
these soldiers will forever be heroes and will forever be remembered.
  Mr. Patterson's achievement is no small feat. Only the second 
commemorative POW/MIA stamp ever issued, the new stamp embodies how the 
vision and hard work of one volunteer can result in a great 
accomplishment. The first commemorative POW/MIA stamp was issued by the 
Post Office in 1970 in the form of a 6 cent postage stamp. Had it not 
been for Mr. Patterson's effort, that may have been the last stamp 
honoring the Nation's many POW's and MIA's. Mr. Patterson's love of and 
devotion to our great Nation, as well as to our POWs and MIAs, should 
serve as a model for all Americans.
  I commend Robert Patterson for his tireless efforts in bringing about 
the POW/MIA postage stamp. Mr. Patterson's efforts on behalf of the 
stamp showed for all the world our country's commitment to the message 
of the POW/MIA cause, ``You Are Not Forgotten''; not forgotten also 
will be Mr. Patterson's message to the cause.
  In closing, I reiterate Mr. Patterson's simple message to the many 
groups he addressed and to the volunteers who assisted him: Remember.


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