[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 67 (Tuesday, May 14, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E791-E792]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       POST-COLD-WAR COOPERATION

                                 ______


                          HON. GEORGE W. GEKAS

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 14, 1996

  Mr. GEKAS. Mr. Speaker, I come before the House to praise the spirit 
of unity and cooperation between two nations, the United States and the 
Republic of Lithuania, whose peoples just a few short years ago knew 
very

[[Page E792]]

little about each other. This spirit has been fostered by the men and 
women of the Pennsylvania National Guard's Military Support Division. 
Under the leadership and guidance of Maj. Gen. James W. Mac Vay, the 
Adjutant General of the Pennsylvania National Guard, the Military 
Support Division oversees the Guard's State Partnership Program [SPP] 
with the Republic of Lithuania.
  The State Partnership Program with Lithuania began in May 1993, 
increasing in size and scope over the past years. The mission of the 
State Partnership Program, one of the many that the Military Support 
Division fulfills, is to conduct a bilateral military outreach program 
with Lithuania designed to assist that nation in the building of an 
essential military infrastructure compatible with the traditions of a 
democratic society. Since July 1994, soldiers of the Pennsylvania 
National Guard have visited with their Lithuanian counterparts 22 
times, providing valuable expertise on a variety of issues. In 
addition, Lithuanian experts visit Pennsylvania and learn first hand 
how our military and government agencies work together.
  These visits have fostered tremendous goodwill between members of 
both delegations. There is an American military liaison team chief in 
Lithuania who works very closely with the U.S. Ambassador to Lithuania, 
the Lithuanian military, the European Command and National Guard 
Bureau. Today, in fact, we were honored to have three members of the 
Lithuanian delegation visit our Nation's Capitol. It was a joy to see 
the delight in their faces as they walked through these hallowed halls 
and sat in the gallery of this body. Col. Algirdas Stulginskis, Lt. 
Col. Romualdas Kiseliunas, and Maj. Vidas Astrauskas have learned much 
about our country during their stay here; not simply technical aspects 
about government agencies and emergency programs, but about the spirit 
of freedom and all for which America stands.
  Groups of Lithuanian soldiers have visited Pennsylvania a total of 20 
times. Every visit consists of meetings with members of Pennsylvania 
communities and learning about how a democratic society operates. 
American and Lithuanian visits are crucial to the success of the 
democratization of eastern Europe, and the fact that they are conducted 
by citizen soldiers from both countries cannot be ignored. During this 
time of military downsizing, we are asking our men and women of the 
Reserves and National Guard to do far more than ever before. The simple 
fact is that these dedicated people are doing their jobs exceedingly 
well with no complaints.
  The men and women of the Pennsylvania National Guard can teach us all 
something about sacrifice and commitment to the principles which made 
our Nation what it is today--a shining example of freedom and 
democracy. We thank our Lithuanian visitors for their dedication to the 
cause of democracy and welcome them back to learn more about the beauty 
of our wonderful form of government. We look forward to learning from 
them as well, since they are all too familiar with how easily freedom 
can be lost.

                          ____________________