[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 124 (Friday, July 28, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1537]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                       TRIBUTE TO KOREA VETERANS

                                 ______


                        HON. WILLIAM J. MARTINI

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, July 27, 1995
  Mr. MARTINI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember an important 
chapter in American history. It was not long ago that American soldiers 
were fighting in the name of democracy on the shores of Korea. While it 
is necessary to put those days behind us, it is also important not to 
lose sight of the tremendous acts of courage by our Armed Forces that 
are responsible for this new cordial period.
  Today, here in our Nation's Capital, we will honor the men and women 
who gallantly served our country in the Korean war. Across from the 
Vietnam Memorial and in the shadow of the Lincoln Memorial, the Korean 
War Memorial will stand in the company of the most celebrated monuments 
in the Nation. It is a tribute to all those brave men and women who 
donned a U.S. military uniform, including those who lost their lives 
and those still missing. As Americans, we are indebted to the soldiers 
who placed their own lives on the line in order to protect the 
cornerstones of American freedom. They fought to protect the freedom to 
speak without the fear of Government censorship. They fought for the 
freedom to freely worship any religion without fear of retribution. All 
in all, they fought for the very principles that our Founding Fathers 
wrote into the four corners of the Constitution.
  In an era that is often assumed to be bereft of leaders, we overlook 
these true American heroes. As a nation, we must ensure that those who 
have honorably served and died in our Armed Forces are remembered with 
gratitude. The decision to serve this country was a selfless act not 
only to protect the future of the United States, but the beliefs on 
which we founded our Nation. When the country called, these courageous 
young soldiers stared fear in the face and accepted the challenge no 
matter the cost. They embody the traits that we, as a nation, should 
all strive to emulate.
  Mr. Speaker, I hope that we all bow our heads in remembrance of the 
valiant young men and women who have pledged to protect the principles 
of freedom that we, as Americans, cherish as no other nation on Earth.


                          ____________________