[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 139 (Friday, September 8, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S13136]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


     REMARKS OF SENATOR HOWELL HEFLIN AT THE V-J. 50TH ANNIVERSARY 
                         COMMEMORATION SERVICE

 Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I rise today to praise our 
colleague, Senator Howell Heflin. Senator Heflin served in the U.S. 
Marine Corps in World War II. He was wounded twice and decorated with 
the Silver Star. Senator Heflin is a strong supporter of America's 
military and has worked hard to ensure that the United States maintains 
its position as the leader of the free world.
  Although his time on active duty is behind him, Senator Heflin 
remains a soldier at heart. On September 2, he attended the V-J 50th 
Anniversary Commemoration Service at Pearl Harbor. I would like to 
share the remarks he delivered with my colleagues.
  For all of us in Congress who served in World War II, and for that 
matter, all World War II veterans, his words remind us of the faith we 
placed in God and our country. A faith that remains unshakable today.
  I ask that Senator Heflin's remarks be printed in the Record.
  The remarks follow:

             V-J Day 50th Anniversary Commemoration Service

                       (By Senator Howell Heflin)

       I was asked to read from the Book of Matthew, Chapter 5, 
     verses 3-16. I have chosen to depart from the printed program 
     and read from the Bible familiar to all troops and sailors 
     during World War II--The King James Version:
       Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom 
     of heaven.
       Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
       Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
       Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after 
     righteousness: for they shall be filled.
       Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
       Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
       Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the 
     children of God.
       Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness 
     sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
       Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute 
     you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, 
     for my sake.
       Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad: for great is your reward 
     in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were 
     before you.
       Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his 
     savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good 
     for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot 
     of men.
       Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an 
     hill cannot be hid.
       Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, 
     but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are 
     in the house.
       Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your 
     good works, and glorify your Father, which is in heaven.
       I have been asked to say a few words on behalf of the 
     veterans of World War II.
       In the early days of World War II, American Chaplain 
     William Thomas Cummings was delivering a sermon to troops on 
     Baatan when he uttered the words, ``There are no atheists in 
     foxholes.'' Those words quickly spread throughout the Pacific 
     and shortly thereafter to wherever American troops were 
     deployed. This truism symbolized the reliance of American 
     service personnel on Almighty God as they served under the 
     Stars and Strips.
       On this 50th anniversary of the official end of World War 
     II, I know that each surviving veteran of World War II gives 
     thanks to our Supreme Deity for His decisive role in 
     protecting us from the chains of totalitarianism, for the 
     preservation of democratic values and for victory over our 
     then-enemies as well as for life itself and many join me in 
     thanking our Father in heaven for His redeeming grace of 
     salvation.
       At this time, I am reminded of the written words of Francis 
     Scott Key which he penned as he watched the bombardment of 
     Fort McHenry on the night of September 13-14, 1814, contained 
     in the last stanza of the Star Spangled Banner. These words, 
     which I paraphrase slightly, express our hope for our 
     nation's future:
       Blest with victory and peace, may this heaven-rescued land
       Praise the power that hath made and preserved us as a 
     nation!
       Then defend it we must, may our cause always be just,
       And this be our motto: ``In God is our trust!''
       And may this star-spangled banner continue to wave, O'er a 
     land of the free, and a home of the brave!
       On behalf of all veterans of World War II, our prayer is 
     that there will never be World War III.
     

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