[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 29 (Wednesday, March 6, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H1754-H1755]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     OUT OF SIGHT BUT NOT FORGOTTEN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. LaTourette.) Under a previous order of 
the House, the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. McIntosh] is recognized for 
5 minutes.
  Mr. McINTOSH. Mr. Speaker, out of sight, out of mind.
  There is a human tendency to forget those things or people that are 
not immediate to us. The media feeds this tendency--where stories of 
heroism or tragedy receive 30 seconds of air time on the evening news--
and then they are forgotten.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise to give my report from Indiana.
  Today I commend the brave men and women serving the cause of peace in 
Bosnia--they may be out of sight, but they are not forgotten.
  They are in Ruthie's and my prayers and in the daily prayers of the 
good people of Indiana's Second District, especially the school 
children.
  Last December, right before Christmas Ruthie and I were fortunate

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enough to visit with some of the soldiers of the 21st TAACOM Army 
Reserve unit which was being deployed as part of Operation Determined 
Effort to help our troops in Bosnia.
  During the course of my visit, Ruthie and I presented some of the 
soldiers with cards and letters of encouragement from school children 
at both Rushville Elementary School and Muncie Northside Middle School.
  Two weeks ago, I visited Rushville Elementary School thanks to Scott 
Bowers of my district staff and his sister Stephanie Bowers, who 
teaches at the elementary school.
  I was able to meet those school children who wrote the letter and 
have not forgotten our men and women serving in Bosnia. Their words 
speak volumes as to what America is all about.
  The first letter that I want to share with you is from Heather Paugh, 
a fifth grader at Rushville Elementary, who said:

       Dear Servicemen: Good luck on your mission to Bosnia. I 
     hope that every one of you come back. I'm behind you all of 
     the way.

  Next is a letter from Jeremy Allison.
  Jeremy writes,

       Dear Troops: I wish you did not have to go to Bosnia. I 
     hope you get all of the medicine safely to the moms and dads 
     and the kids that are sick and need it.
       My name is Jeremy Allison. My uncle is in the Air Force. 
     I'm 10 years old and in the 4th grade. I go to Rushville 
     Elementary School.
       I hope you get back safe. If you do you will be a hero.
       Remember God is with you.
       Your friend, Jeremy.

  The last letter I want to share with you conveys the uncertainty one 
of the children has toward the whole mission.
  He writes:

       I am very surprised that you would risk your life to save 
     another. I don't think it's fair that you have to go. I wish 
     that Bosnia would have peace and nobody would have to do what 
     you're doing.
       I have been studying in school about all of the people who 
     have lost their families. I am very sorry that happens almost 
     everyday. I hope you do not have to shoot anybody. I'm a 10 
     year old boy in Rushville.
       Graig Weily.

  We are all proud to know that America has dedicated service men and 
women ready to give up their lives to protect freedom. And most 
importantly, children back home that believe in them.
  Grownups may disagree over the policy and the deployment of troops to 
Bosnia, but I think most grownups, including myself, agree with Jeremy 
Allison: ``I hope you get back safe and if you do you will be a hero. 
Remember God is with you.''
  To the brave men and women serving in Bosnia--you may be out of 
sight, but you are not out of mind, you are in our prayers daily.
  And that is my report from Indiana this week.

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