[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 143 (Thursday, September 14, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1786-E1787]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                 ``VETERANS'' AND ``AMERICA, THE BEST''

                                 ______


                           HON. CLIFF STEARNS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 14, 1995
  Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, I commend these two poems to my colleagues. 
They were written by Ellen M. Fisher from Belleview, FL, a constituent 
of mine.
                                Veterans

     Our veterans have suffered through many struggles and strife,
     To protect our American way of life.
     Most of them volunteered to go in our place,
     Young and old, some from every race.

     They've fought in places too numerous to name.
     Some we never heard about, others gained heroic fame.
     No matter what the assignment, whether a task great or small,
     Each and every one of them can stand proud and tall.

     They sacrificed so much for us, some limbs, some sight, some 
           lives,
     So we could enjoy liberty and freedom and all that freedom 
           buys.
     We can never say thank you long or loud enough,
     To erase the pain and suffering that has been so very tough.
     The things we take for granted, they fought so hard for.
     Have you thanked our many veterans for going off to war?

     There are those who never came home from war,
     And some who have never been accounted for.
     The answers to these questions are known somewhere,
     They didn't just vanish into thin air.

     The door should never be closed on our POW's and MIA's.
     While the search continues, America prays.
     We want to know without a shadow of a doubt,
     Of our friends and loved ones whereabouts.

     Our veterans deserve much more than we give.
     It's only because of them that we can really live.
     They may not be perfect, but neither are we.
     If it were not for their service, we wouldn't be free.
                                                                    ____


                           America, the Best

     If you don't think America is the best place on earth,
     If you don't want to claim it as the land of your birth,
     If you can't look at the red, white, and blue, and say I love 
           it so,
     Then take a look around the world at places you might go.

     Our world is made up of many countries,
     Heartwarming people, beautiful terrain,
     Many languages and ideals, but basically we're all the same.

     There is no place on earth that enjoys the freedoms Americans 
           have.
     We can worship, work, or travel on any day of the week.
     There's no one to stop us, when life's many pleasures we 
           seek.

[[Page E 1787]]

     There have been no major wars fought on U.S. soil, and our 
           needs are met when we are willing to toil.

     We can start a new business, or work at the old,
     Go in every day and do as we're told;
     Or we can put out the effort, the time, and pray,
     But isn't that the great advantages of the AMERICAN WAY.

     Where else on earth can you say you're really free,
     And sing that song of honor ``My Country Tis of Thee''?
     From north to south, and east to west,
     We should be so thankful that we live in AMERICA, THE BEST.
     

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