[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 145 (Monday, September 18, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1794-E1795]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             JOEL COOK DAY

                                 ______


                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 18, 1995

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I wish to call to the attention of our 
colleagues a remarkable man who led an incredible life of service to 
others. This coming Sunday, September 24, Joel's hometown of Walden, 
NY, will be paying tribute to him.
  Joel Cook, a veteran of the Vietnam conflict, took the plight of our 
missing American heroes, and the families they left behind, to his 
heart. In 1977, at a time when most Americans wanted to forget about 
our involvement in Vietnam, and sweep the problems from that conflict 
under the rug, Joel founded the National Human Rights Committee for 
POW's and MIA's. As its national chairman, he helped light a fire under 
all of us, reminding us that it was important that we must not forsake 
those brave missing Americans.
  Many veterans groups throughout the Nation came to depend upon Joel 
Cook and his organization for the information they provided, the 
suggestions they proffered, and the assistance they were always ready 
to give. In the year 1977, many Americans neither knew nor cared what 
the initials ``POW'' or ``MIA'' stood for. In good part, public 
awareness of the issue was heightened by Joel's tireless efforts.
  In July 1992, as a result of the illness which Joel probably 
contracted or had exacerbated by his exposure to Agent Orange during 
his service in Southeast Asia, he retired as national chairman of the 
Human Rights Committee. We lost him about a year and a half later, on 
January 17, 1994.
  However, his friends, loved ones, and the many lives he touched 
ensured that his hometown would not forget him.
  This Sunday, Joel Cook Day in Walden, will be a commemoration--and a 
celebration--of this stellar veteran and the time and effort he devoted 
to helping others. His widow, Linda, his children, and other family 
members will be on hand to share in our appreciation of Joel Cook's 
works and deeds. On Sunday, which is the day before what would have 
been Joel Cook's 49th birthday, the American Legion Post No. 158 in 
Walden will officially change its name from the William Deakin Post No. 
158 to the William Deakin-Joel Cook chapter. A duplicate of the new 
official American Legion charter indicating this name change will be 
presented to the Cook family at this time, with appropriate ceremonies.
  Today, over two decades after the end of hostilities in Southeast 
Asia, 2,197 Americans are still not accounted for. The National League 
of Families of POW's and MIA's pointed out to my office just this week 
that, if Joel Cook were alive today, he would be the first and the 
loudest to protest the rush toward normalization of relations with 
Vietnam with the fates of so many of our fellow citizens still 
undetermined.
  Mr. Speaker, many of our colleagues have joined with me throughout 
the years to remind all of us in this Nation that our missing fellow 
Americans must never be forgotten. Joel Cook Day, coming only 9 days 
after our annual National POW-MIA Remembrance Day, is a suitable time 
to remember that many of us here at home have dedicated their lives to 
this worthy cause.

[[Page E 1795]]

  As is true of our missing service men and women, they deserve nothing 
less.

                          ____________________