[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 122 (Wednesday, July 26, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H7796-H7799]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 2320
THE KOREAN WAR MEMORIAL UNVEILING
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Kim). Under the Speaker's announced
policy of May 12, 1995, the gentleman from New York [Mr. Solomon] is
recognized for one-half of the time remaining before midnight as the
designee of the majority leader.
general leave
Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their
remarks on the subject of my special order tonight.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New York?
There was no objection.
Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, let me call attention to the Members that
the acting Speaker in the chair is a United States citizen, and he is a
native of Korea, and we are very proud of him, and this is the subject
of this special order this evening, the country of Korea, the brave
Korean people.
Mr. Speaker, this year marks the 50th anniversary of the end of WWII,
a devastating war that brought an end to the inhumane expansionist
regimes of Germany and Japan.
And tomorrow July 27 marks the 42d anniversary of the end of another
war--the forgotten war of Korea.
Well, Mr. Speaker, finally after all these years the Korean war--the
war that stopped the spread of deadly atheistic communism dead in its
tracks--will no longer be a forgotten war--because tomorrow we will
unveil one of the finest memorials ever dedicated to young men and
women who lost their lives in service to this great country of ours.
Mr. Speaker, the Korean war was the first battlefield test of our
resolve against communism.
And make no mistake about it--we won that war.
We stopped the spread of deadly, atheistic communism dead in its
tracks.
Up until then, communism had appeared invincible.
It had gobbled up half of Europe and seemed everywhere on the march.
Mr. Speaker, it's about time to rewrite all those textbooks that say
the Korean war ended in a draw.
Our show of toughness in Korea--for the first time--showed the
Communists that we were not going to let them expand their empire
throughout the world.
Mr. Speaker, the United States showed them we were willing to pay the
price, and a terrible price it was with over 54,000 dead, and 103,000
wounded, 7,000 taken prisoner of war, and 8,000-plus still listed as
missing in action, all that in just 3 short years, and so I would
suggest, my colleagues, that the Berlin Wall may have fallen in 1989,
but the first cracks appeared in 1953, far away in a place called
Korea.
And yes, Korea was the most brutal war in our history.
A lot of it was fought in 30-below winters by outnumbered American
troops--many of them green and untried--because America was not
militarily prepared.
The communists nearly drove our troops off the Korean Peninsula, but
they were halted at the Pusan perimeter, and 5 days later allied forces
launched the last great amphibious landing in history at Inchon.
The U.S. Army and Marines drove them all the way back to the Yalu
River.
And the war was almost over, until the Chinese communists came
swarming across the border, outnumbering allied forces by more than 10
to 1, trapping thousands of American Marines behind enemy lines.
And thus began one of the bravest battles ever fought by American
troops anywhere in the world.
The full weight of the veteran 100,000-man communist Chinese Army
came crushing down on a sorely outnumbered 7th, 5th, and 1st Marine
Regiments.
One of these 21-year-old Marines was my high school pal Lance
Corporal Stephen Olmstead, who 30 years later would attain the rank of
lieutenant general, recanted many times how the Chinese attacked during
the night in temperatures approaching 30 degrees below zero, cutting
the main supply routes, and isolating the Marines into four close
perimeters.
Although the vastly outnumbered marines held their ground, the
situation was grave.
And on 1 December 1950, General O.P. Smith ordered a breakout from
the reservoir, which he termed an ``attack in a different direction.''
Supported by the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, which flew nearly 4,000
sorties during the entire operation, the 1st Marine Division blasted
its way through seven Chinese divisions to reach safety at Hungnam by
12 December--eleven days and nights in blinding snow--over near
impassable, frozen, mountainous terrain.
Mr. Speaker, the Chosin Reservoir campaign cost the marines over
4,400 battle casualties, including killed and wounded, and uncounted
cases of frostbite and pneumonia, but the Chinese forces had suffered a
catastrophic 25,000 dead.
Yes, the 1st Marine Division fought its way out of that trap at
Chosin Reservoir, bringing their wounded with them, and writing one of
the most glorious chapters in Marine Corps history.
And as General Olmstead told me:
It was in a spirit of prayerful thanksgiving that Americans
read about the column of grimy, parka-clad marines who came
out of the mountains of Northeast Korea on 11 December 1950.
They had come out fighting; they were numbingly cold and
bone weary.
They had brought out with them their wounded, most of their
dead, and most of their equipment. They were the chosen few.
Mr. Speaker, during the Korean war, I spent my time with the 2nd
Marine Division and never saw combat with those brave Marines at Chosin
Reservoir, but those acts of heroism personify the history of our
beloved corps.
Mr. Speaker, tomorrow at 3 p.m., and we are going to roll votes from
2 to 4 so Members of Congress can attend tomorrow at 3 p.m., along with
veterans from all branches of our military, we will gather at the first
unveiling of the Korean War Memorial in remembrance of those who served
in a war called Korea that is no longer forgotten.
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Mr. Speaker, I yield to someone I am very proud of. He is a brand new
Member of this Congress. I came here 17 years ago, but now, 17 years
later, joining me is another former Marine, and he happened to go
through boot camp, Parris Island with me, 17 years ago. Never in this
world I thought there would be another one here in Congress, but there
is, and his name is Fred Heineman from Raleigh, NC.
Corporal, would you like to get up and say a few words?
Mr. HEINEMAN. Thank you, Jerry.
Mr. Speaker, ``First to Fight'' has always been a proud tradition of
the U.S. Marine Corps. As we pause during this week of commemoration
and reflection to recall the early, critical weeks of the Korean War, I
am proud to recall the outstanding performance of our Marine Corps in
taking the fight to the enemy and recapturing the South Korean capital
city of Seoul.
After the successful amphibious assault on Inchon in mid-September
1950, the 1st Marine Division maintained their unremitting pressure on
the North Koreans, forcing them into a contest for the South Korean
capital.
[[Page H7797]]
While the 1st Marines attacked the western suburb of Youngdungpo, the
5th Marines swung to the northeast, captured Kimpo airfield and crossed
the Han River in amphibian tractors. Joined by the 1st Marines on the
right flank, the 5th Marines then drove south into Seoul with the
recently arrived 7th Marines on the left. Seoul was recaptured after
another week of bitter street fighting. Marines methodically eliminated
pockets of stubborn enemy resistance, tanks clashed in the streets, and
entire neighborhoods were demolished in the intense conflict.
The 1st Marine Division, having taken Seoul, re-embarked for the
opposite coast of Korea to interdict elements of the retreating North
Korean People's Army. Before the Marines could land at the eastern port
city of Wonsan, however, Communist forces had evacuated the area. From
Wonsan, the 1st Marine Division fanned out south and west, engaging the
retreating North Koreans in a series of sharp fights, and then headed
north towards the Chosin Reservoir.
Yes, the gentleman from New York so capably gave a profile of the
early stages of the Korean war, and he did reveal to this Congress that
44 years ago he and I shared an experience in South Carolina, a place
called Parris Island, serving in the same platoon, Platoon 168, from
February 16, 1951, to April 6, 1951. And I am just as proud to have
served with him then as I am to serve with him in this body today. I am
proud to have been a Marine. I am proud to have been, and I am proud to
be today, a Member of this Congress.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. SOLOMON. Fred, thank you, and thank you for being here in the
Congress standing up for America once again.
Mr. Speaker, let me yield to another freshman Member. He is an
outstanding Member, he replaced a very close friend of mine in this
body, and his name is Wes Cooley from Alfalfa, OR. He is a veteran of
the U.S. Air Force and a veteran of the Korean war.
Wes, it is good to have you with us.
Mr. COOLEY. Mr. Speaker, I always think of Korea, when I say that, is
that I had a hard time for many, many years, because we used to call
this a police action, if you remember. That was the term used many,
many years after we served in this conflict.
This police action, performed by the United Nations, stopped
communism, but it cost a lot of American lives. As the previous speaker
has spoken, we lost over 54,000 young Americans in three years of
combat. Compare that to 10 years in Vietnam when we only lost 58,000,
4,000 more. This was one of the most bloody conflicts that America has
ever participated in, other than the Civil War.
It was a foreign war, and I am glad to see we are being recognized as
a war now. It has been 42 years since the end of this conflict, and
tomorrow we are going to celebrate a memorial to those 54,000 heroes
that died in Korea.
This is a living memorial, as people will see when they come to
Washington to see the Korean Memorial. It is not a tombstone, it is a
memorial, and I am very proud to be here in Congress and to participate
in tomorrow's ceremonies in announcing an opening of the Korean
Memorial.
Thank you very much.
Mr. SOLOMON. Wes, we sure thank you.
Mr. Speaker, on the other side of the aisle is another very good
friend of ours, a second termer. He is Paul McHale from Bethlehem, PA,
another good Marine who has a total of 23 years active and reserve
duty.
Paul, it is good to have you with us this evening.
Mr. McHALE. Thank you very much, Jerry. Mr. Speaker, I would like to
read something that I read many years ago for the first time. It
touched me deeply then and I hope it affects you today.
commiskey, henry a., sr.
Rank and Organization: First Lieutenant (then 2d Lt.), U.S.
Marine Corps, Company C, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st
Marine Division (Rein). Place and date: Near Yongdungp'o,
Korea, 20 September 1950, Entered service at: Hattiesburg,
Miss. Birth: 10 January 1927, Hattiesburg, Miss. Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his
life above and beyond the call to duty while serving as a
platoon leader in Company C, in action against enemy
aggressor forces. Directed to attack hostile forces well dug
in on Hill 85, 1st Lt. Commiskey, spearheaded the assault,
charging up the steep slopes on the run. Coolly disregarding
the heavy enemy machinegun and small-arms fire, he plunged on
well forward of the rest of his platoon and was the first man
to reach the crest of the objective. Armed only with a
pistol, he jumped into a hostile machinegun emplacement
occupied by 5 enemy troops and quickly disposed of 4 of the
soldiers with his automatic pistol. Grappling with the fifth,
1st Lt. Commiskey knocked him to the ground and held him
until he could obtain a weapon from another member of his
platoon and killed the last of the enemy gun-crew. Continuing
his bold assault, he moved to the next emplacement, killed 2
more of the enemy and then led his platoon toward the rear
nose of the hill to rout the remainder of the hostile troops
and destroy them as they fled from their position. His
valiant leadership and courageous fighting spirit served to
inspire the men of his company to heroic endeavor in seizing
the objective and reflect the highest credit upon 1st Lt.
Commiskey and the U.S. Naval Service.
Mr. Speaker, I quoted that Medal of Honor citation for two reasons.
First of all, it demonstrates dramatically the courage and tenacity
with which our Marines fought in Korea during the early days of that
war. I quoted it also for a more personal reason: 22 years after the
Medal of Honor was earned, Henry A. Commiskey, Jr., was commissioned
with me at Quantico, VA, served with me at Quantico and later in
Okinawa with the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, and 19 years after that,
Henry A. Commiskey Jr., the son of this brave man, served with me in
the Gulf war. Skeeter, I hope you are listening.
Mr. Speaker, as we continue this week to commemorate and to honor the
service of our 5.7 million Korean War veterans, it is well to reflect
upon some of the key campaigns in and operations of the bitter
conflict. My good friend and fellow Marine, Jerry, spoke to you a few
moments ago of the Chosin Reservoir. I would like to speak of a history
of the Punchbowl.
In late April, 1951, communist forces launched a massive
counterattack which left a gaping hole in the United Nations lines.
Elements of the 1st Marine Division were flung into action and were
soon joined by the British Commonwealth 27th brigade. The enemy was
contained after 5 days of hard fighting and finally the front lines
stabilized.
In mid-May, 1951, the Chinese opened the second phase of their spring
offensive and made brief gains into the U.N. lines. Valiant fighting by
Marine and Army units helped to stabilize the situation and by the end
of the month, the enemy offensive had run out of steam. The 1st Marine
Division, located at Hwachon Reservoir, occupied the ridge line
overlooking a deep circular valley, aptly nicknamed the Punchbowl.
Truce negotiations now began and U.N. forces settled down into a
defensive position. The communists, however, were simply buying time to
rebuild their forces.
In September 1951, hostilities resumed in earnest and the Marines
found themselves back on the attack in the mountainous Punchbowl area.
Soon thereafter U.N. forces halted offensive operations in the hope
that renewed negotiations would bring an end to the fighting.
By early 1952, the Marines had moved to the western Korean front,
where they assumed a defensive posture that would continue until the
close of the war.
As negotiations dragged on, the 1st Marine Division protected and
consolidated U.N. gains by conducting patrol operations and engaging in
several tough trench warfare actions in western Korea.
{time} 2340
In mid-August 1952, there was hard fighting at the Bunker Hill
outpost, and in October there was a fight for the ``Hook.'' In the
spring of 1953, Marines engaged enemy forces in particularly bitter
clashes for possession of outposts with names such as ``Reno,''
``Vegas,'' and ``Carson City'' in the so-called ``Nevada Cities''
campaign.
An armistice ending the fighting across all fronts in Korea was
finally argued out at Panmunjom, and went into effect at 2200, 27 July
1953. After the cease-fire, Marines were called upon to assume a
defensive posture along the Demilitarized Zone should any further
hostilities occur. They remained in Korea until 1955 when the 1st
Marine Division returned to Camp Pendleton, California.
[[Page H7798]]
Mr. Speaker, as we have learned this week, and most eloquently from
the gentleman from New York Jerry Solomon, a few minutes ago, there was
an extraordinary price that was paid in stemming the tide of aggression
in Korea. The Marine Corps, a service that is beloved by all Americans
and particularly by those who speak to you this evening, lost over
4,500 of our finest men killed in action, and over 26,000 United States
Marines were wounded. The American people had ample cause to be proud
of their Marine Corps in this war, as in so many others, as they
advanced the cause of freedom in the Republic of Korea.
Mr. SOLOMON. Well, Paul, thank you very, very much for those eloquent
remarks.
Mr. Speaker, let me now yield to our last speaker this evening, which
would be my good friend, another freshman Member of this body that we
can be so proud of, the gentleman from Abington, Pennsylvania, Jon Fox,
a veteran of the U.S. Air Force.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Kim). If the gentleman would suspend,
the Chair wants to make one statement. There being no present designee
of the minority leader, the gentleman from New York [Mr. Solomon] may
continue for the balance of the time remaining before midnight.
Mr. SOLOMON. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I yield to the gentleman
from Pennsylvania, Jon Fox.
Mr. FOX. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, all Members of Congress, from both Houses and both sides
of the aisle join together tonight in salute to our proud Veterans of
the Korean war.
I want to give special thanks to the patriots who have spoken before
me and given much more than I have, people like Jerry Solomon, Fred
Heineman, Wes Cooley, and Paul McHale. These gentlemen have given much
to our country, along with the other veterans who have done so much,
and I hope that those who hear about the Korean Memorial that will be
unveiled tomorrow will be an inspiration to those who wish to serve
this country and have served this country to continue making sure that
this country will remain vigilant to any aggression against the United
States.
The Korean war, Mr. Speaker, was the first multinational military
action in the history of the United Nations. It helped stop the spread
of communism aggression in the Pacific Rim and contributed, Mr.
Speaker, to the eventual demise of communism in Europe.
On June 25, 1950, the North Korean Army, which was organized and
equipped by the Soviet Union, lunged across the 38th Parallel, the
demarcation line established between North and South Korea at the end
of World War II, and attacked South Korea.
President Truman responded immediately by committing U.S. forces to
the defense of South Korea. Simultaneously, the United Nations Security
Council called upon member nations to do the same, and a multinational
force consisting of 22 nations formed to face the crisis.
The North Korean Offensive drove defenders to the southeast corner of
the Korean Peninsula. There, the Pusan perimeter was established and,
reinforced by American divisions, held despite bitter battles.
The outstanding work and the service of the Marine Corps as outlined
by the prior speakers is well documented and it is a shining example
for all to follow. The heroic defense was made possible by a
brilliantly conceived amphibious landing at Inchon which enveloped the
overextended North Korean army and recaptured the capital city of
Seoul. Approximately 1,500,000 U.S. military personnel served in Korea
out of a Total Korean war-era U.S. Worldwide military force of more
than 5.7 million. More than 54,000 U.S. military service personnel died
around the world during the Korean war era. The Republic of Korea lost
more than 225,000 men in combat during that time. Some 22 nations
supplied personnel for the U.N. force in Korea.
Mr. Speaker, the Korean War Veterans Memorial in the Nation's capital
pays tribute to all those who served in the Korean war and the American
spirit of service to one's country. It honors the patriotism, Mr.
Speaker, of millions of brave men and women throughout the history of
the United States who have responded to the call of duty, and it
expresses the Nation's gratitude to those willing to make extreme
sacrifices to the cause of freedom.
Tomorrow at 3 p.m. at the Korean memorial the wreath laying ceremony
will take place in salute of our Korean war Veterans, and as Jerry
Solomon said, the forgotten war and the forgotten Veterans will no
longer be forgotten because of a grateful Nation. We will salute the
veterans tomorrow and salute them every day forward. I thank these
Marines who allowed me to join with them tonight, because a grateful
Congress is very appreciative and will forever remember your
contributions.
Mr. SOLOMON. Jon, thank you very, very much for those very, very fine
words, and we will see you at the Korean war memorial tomorrow at 3
p.m.
Mr. Speaker, let me yield one more time to our very good friend from
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Paul McHale.
Mr. McHALE. Jerry, I thank you very much.
Mr. Speaker, in closing my remarks, I would like to quote from an
extremely well written newspaper article written by Joe Wheelan of the
Associated Press as it appeared yesterday in the Washington Times. It
supplements and complements the remarks made earlier by my good friend
and colleague Jerry Solomon in describing the ferocious combat that
took place at the
Chosin Reservoir. It, I think, captures the spirit of the courage of
those brave Marines.
Quoting from Joe Wheelan:
The Chosin Reservoir. Frozen Chosin. Where the 1st Marine
Division fought for 14 days in 30-below-zero temperatures
against 120,000 Chinese.
The 16,000 Marines and 4,000 Army, British Royal Marines
and South Korean troops broke out of the deadly Chinese trap
between Nov. 27 and Dec. 11, 1950. They killed more than
40,000 Chinese while losing nearly 1,700 dead and 5,000
wounded.
Few battles have been waged under worse conditions. A one-
lane dirt road through icy mountains was the only link to
seaports 78 miles away. The brittle cold froze blood from
wounds before it coagulated and turned guns, tanks, jeeps and
food into blocks of ice. Stiffened corpses were stacked like
cordwood.
``There were so many Chinese we used their frozen bodies
for barricades, like sandbags,'' said Win Scott, who was a
Marine private and now heads the Chosin Few veterans
organization from Waynesville, N.C.
The 4,800-member association has expanded awareness of the
largely forgotten battle. Chosin Few members will join other
Korean War veterans for the dedication of the memorial,
across the Reflecting Pool from the Vietnam Veterans
Memorial.
The monument is a tribute to the 54,246 Americans killed in
Korea in the 1950-53 war.
At Chosin, more medals were awarded than for any modern
battle--17 Medals of Honor and 70 Navy Crosses.
Mr. Speaker, not long ago I had an opportunity to spend some time
with the former commandant of the Marine Corps PX Kelly, an
extraordinary Marine and a very brave man. In late 1983, shortly after
the BLT headquarters was blown up in Beirut, then commandant PX Kelly
visited a badly wounded and blinded Marine in a German hospital. As the
commandant of the Marine Corps approached the side of the wounded
Marine, and the Marine was informed that it was indeed the commandant
approaching, he attempted to come to the position of attention.
Overcome, appropriately, with emotion, that commandant of the Marine
Corps uttered a phrase that will live in Marine Corps history, ``Oh
Lord, where do we find men such as these?''
Since November 10, 1775, our Nation has found it in the United States
Marine Corps.
Mr. SOLOMON. Paul, again, thank you. Thank you so much for
participating in this special order along with Fred Heineman, Wes
Cooley, and Jon Fox, and let me just say that you mentioned the former
commandant PX Kelly, and we are going to have the privilege of having
him up in the Adirondack Mountains with me during the August break.
Maybe I should not say this on the floor of this Congress, but he was
one hell of a Marine.
Let me just close, Mr. Speaker, because we are running out of time,
and because we were limited tonight because of the late session, and
under House rules we cannot go beyond a certain time. That is why I
asked general leave that Members have 5 legislative days to revise and
extend their remarks and for those that could not participate because
of the lack of time here this evening. Let me just emphasize one more
time, and, Paul, you brought it out so vividly, but during
[[Page H7799]]
the Vietnam war, which lasted more than a decade. The losses during the
Vietnam War, which are still vivid in many Americans' minds but many
cannot remember that far back to the Korean War 42 years ago, the very
fact that the losses sustained in the Korean War during just three
short years were almost identical to those of the Vietnam War over a
period that took three and four times longer.
2350
That is just how ferocious it was and just how difficult it was for
our young men and women serving in Korea at that time.
So let me just call attention one more time to say that tomorrow the
Speaker has agreed not to have votes on the floor of this Congress
between the hours of 2 and 4. We will have a bus leaving for Members of
Congress to join several hundred thousand veterans and their families
and their friends who will be at this finest of memorials to the Korean
War, which will once and for all set to rest the forgotten war attitude
of so many people. It no longer will be forgotten, thanks to that
wonderful memorial.
I just invite everybody to go see it. It is so inspiring.
Mr. Speaker, with that, I thank everyone for participating in this
special order.
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, war in Korea lasted 3 years. Yet, for
most Americans, the Korean war remains a hazy event at best, lost
between the magnitude of World War II and the upheaval of Vietnam. For
many Americans, the conflict is best known because of the popular movie
and television series ``M*A*S*H.''
The Korean war erupted on June 25, 1950, when 135,000 North Korea
troops, spearheaded by 200 Russian-built tanks and planes, poured
across the 38th parallel, crushing South Korean defenses. Three days
later, President Truman ordered United States forces to defend South
Korea.
Prompted by the action of the United States, the United Nations
condemned the act of aggression. For the first time in its history, the
United Nations created a United Nations Command, with the United States
as its acting executive agent, to repel the attack of communist North
Korea. In addition to the United States and South Korea, 20 other
nations provided military contingents which served under the United
Nations banner.
The fighting raged on for more than 3 years. Yet, the war received
little attention back home. Active hostilities ended with an armistice
on July 27, 1953.
During the war, 54,000 Americans died, including more than 34,000 on
the battlefield. In addition, more than 103,000 Americans were wounded
and some 8,000 are still missing or unaccounted for.
Despite their courage and sacrifice, the soldiers returning from
Korea were not met with a hero's welcome. Instead, Korean veterans just
blended back into the mainstream of American society. Their entitlement
to national recognition is as valid today as ever. The time has come
for the soldiers who stopped communist aggression in Northeast Asia to
receive their proper place in history.
More than 5.7 million American servicemen and women were involved--
directly or indirectly--in the Korean war. As a Korean era veteran, I
am pleased that the Korean War Memorial is being dedicated on Thursday,
July 27, 1995--the 42d anniversary of the armistice ending the war.
I believe it is fitting that we pay special tribute to the men and
women who served during the Korean war. When the time came for courage
and sacrifice, their generation stepped forward to serve their country.
They left a peaceful civilian life for an uncertain future in uniform;
they gave up the comforts of home for the horrors of the battlefield.
Regrettably, the 54,000 Americans who died in the cold of Korea
fighting communism didn't live to see the fruits of their sacrifice,
not only for Americans, but for hundreds of millions in Poland,
Czechoslovakia, Hungary--even in the Republics of the former Soviet
Union.
If only these heroes could be with us today to see the changes that
have swept the globe because of what they did. The Berlin all has been
reduced to a chunk of concrete on display at the Ronald Reagan Library
in California and Leningrad once again is St. Petersburg. Incredibly,
if they could travel to Moscow, they would be amazed to see more people
standing in line to get a hamburger at McDonald's than used to visit
Lenin's tomb.
Throughout history, America's veterans have served and served well.
They saw democracy challenged and they defended it. They say
civilization threatened and they rescued it. They say our rights
endangered and they sought to restore them.
America can never fully repay these veterans, and we will never be
able to express our feelings to our fallen soldiers. But we must never
forget how blessed we are in the modern world to live in a free
society, nor forget the sacrifices of our friends, relatives, neighbors
and countrymen who served us all when duty called.
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