[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 62 (Tuesday, May 7, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E718-E719]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF GHENT VFW

                                 ______


                        HON. GERALD B.H. SOLOMON

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 7, 1996

  Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to commemorate the golden 
anniversary of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 5933. This post, I am 
proud to say, is based in Ghent, NY, in the heart of my congressional 
district, and is celebrating its 50th year of service. This post 
personifies the outstanding efforts of the entire nationwide membership 
to promote a strong national defense and to help veterans and their 
families. And that is one reason I was so pleased to be awarded the VFW 
National Commander's Congressional Award several years ago.
  The VFW, Mr. Speaker, has been an organization of exceptional merit 
and service to the

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needs of many veterans. It is only appropriate that those brave men and 
women who placed themselves in harms way overseas be represented by 
such an able organization. The members of Post No. 5933 have been 
receiving just such outstanding service for 50 years now. It is 
comforting to know that those who served the needs of our country and 
fought for the principles and ideals of America all over the globe can 
depend on the support of an organization like Post 5933 back home in 
upstate New York.
  Mr. Speaker, the service of Post 5933 in Ghent is worthy of 
significant recognition. This post, and others like it, are the reason 
I fought so hard to attain Department-level status for Veterans 
Affairs. When Ronald Reagan signed that legislation into law, veterans 
were finally afforded the degree of national consideration they 
deserve. The efforts of VFW posts like this one, Mr. Speaker, having 
served the needs of veterans since 1946, assured veterans the 
assistance and recognition they deserved prior to approval of this 
Government Department, and continue to encourage fair consideration of 
veterans' issues. For this, Mr. Speaker, we owe Post 5933 a tremendous 
debt of gratitude.
  The famous historian George Santayana once said, ``Those who do not 
remember history are bound to repeat it.'' VFW posts all across America 
have not forgotten the past or those men and women who made the 
ultimate sacrifice for our country. I ask all Members in the House to 
rise in tribute to VFW Post 5933 and join me in saluting all the 
members, past and present, on the occasion of their 50th anniversary.

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