[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 73 (Wednesday, May 22, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E870-E871]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   MEMORIAL DAY--A DAY OF COMMITMENT

                                 ______


                            HON. BOB FILNER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 22, 1996

  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, Memorial Day will soon be upon us. Through 
ceremonies and private contemplation, we will honor our war dead--one 
million, one hundred eighty thousand and ten Americans who have died 
since the war that gave birth to our Nation more than two centuries 
ago.
  This custom has been a practice of all civilizations, from ancient 
Greece and Rome to modern day observances. I find Memorial Day to be 
particularly meaningful because it is a day when we set aside our 
everyday preoccupations to focus on the significant sacrifices made to 
keep our Nation strong and free.
  At Memorial Day services in Arlington National Cemetery in 1982, 
President Reagan summed up the thoughts of his country when he said: 
``The willingness of some to give their lives so that others might live 
never fails to

[[Page E871]]

evoke in us a sense of wonder and mystery. I have known that poignant 
feeling as I looked out across the rows of white crosses and Stars of 
David in Europe, in the Philippines, and the military cemeteries here 
in our own land. Each one marks the resting place of an American hero. 
Each died for a cause he considered more important than his own life, 
for the values which make up what we call civilization.''
  Freedom of speech and freedom to choose our religion, the 
responsibility of participating in our democracy through the ballot, 
the opportunity for achieving an education and earning a living--these 
are the defining pillars upon which our Nation is built, and these are 
the values that we must defend and pass along to our children.
  This day leaves few hearts unmoved in recalling the brave men and 
women who died in defense of these values of freedom and democracy. 
Memorial Day is not about war or peace. It is about people who have 
made the ultimate sacrifice for our Nation.
  How can we best honor their memory? We must make our lives a tribute 
to them by sustaining the values for which they fought. We must teach 
our children the freedoms we enjoy are due to the sacrifices by the 
Americans who were willing to die for freedom. We must pass along to 
future generations the importance of education and work. We must remind 
our youth that their right to free speech and to vote must not be taken 
lightly. We must provide opportunities for all our children to 
participate in this Nation's abundance. We must retain such basic 
rights as health care, decent food and housing, protection of our 
precious environment, and education by making them our highest 
priorities.
  In doing so, we will build a lasting memorial to our loved ones. Let 
us keep these commitments in our hearts as we commemorate Memorial Day, 
1996.

                          ____________________