[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 74 (Thursday, May 23, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5601-S5602]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 61--RELATIVE TO COMMENDING AMERICANS WHO 
                         SERVED IN THE COLD WAR

  Mr. DOLE submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on Armed Services:

                            S. Con. Res. 61

       Whereas the most dangerous military competition in the 
     history of mankind has come to a close without a nuclear 
     holocaust;
       Whereas men and women in the armed forces, intelligence 
     community, and foreign service community of the United States

[[Page S5602]]

     faithfully performed their duties during the period known as 
     the Cold War;
       Whereas many of these persons were isolated from family and 
     friends and served under arduous conditions in far away lands 
     in order to preserve peace and harmony throughout the world:
       Whereas these persons performed their duty in the most 
     successful, extended, military competition in the history of 
     mankind and ensured that weapons of mass destruction, capable 
     of destroying all humanity, were never released;
       Whereas the self-discipline and dedication of these persons 
     were fundamental to the prevention of a Super Power conflict; 
     and
       Whereas the silent determination of these persons brought a 
     peaceful victory to all the people of the world: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress acknowledges the service and 
     sacrifices of these Americans who contributed to historic 
     victory in the Cold War.

  Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, today I am pleased to join Representative 
Rick Lazio of New York, in paying tribute to the dedicated Americans 
who served in the Armed Forces, Intelligence Agencies, and the 
Diplomatic Corps during the Cold War. Their courageous efforts not only 
ensured America's security, but eventually brought peace and freedom to 
millions of people around the world who had suffered under communism 
for decades.
  In the aftermath of World War II, a new threat to freedom emerged. 
Fifty years ago this spring, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill 
warned the Western world of that new threat in a speech at Westminster 
College in Fulton, Missouri. ``From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in 
the Adriatic an iron curtain has descended across the Continent * * *. 
The Communist parties, which were very small in all these Eastern 
States of Europe, have been raised to pre-eminence and power far beyond 
their numbers and are seeking everywhere to obtain totalitarian 
control. Police governments are prevailing in nearly every case, and so 
far, except in Czechoslovakia, there is no true democracy.'' To combat 
this new threat Prime Minister Churchill called on us to work to 
prevent open hostilities and to ensure the ``* * * establishment of 
conditions of freedom and democracy as rapidly as possible in all 
countries.'' He further called for cooperation between the United 
States and her allies ``* * * in the air, on the sea, all over the 
globe and in science and in industry, and in moral force * * *'' in 
order that we might have an ``overwhelming assurance of security.''
  For the next four decades, the United States, with its Allies, stood 
resolute against Communist aggression. The full resources of our 
military, intelligence organizations, and diplomatic corps were brought 
to bear to ensure freedom and prevent the spread of tyranny. The United 
States, through the Marshall Plan, rebuilt Europe. We formed alliances, 
such as NATO, with our allies to provide a coordinated military 
response to Communist aggression. And the United States embarked on the 
Strategic Defense Initiative, to ensure that future generations would 
not grow up fearing a nuclear holocaust.
  Now, 50 years after Prime Minister Churchill's speech in Fulton, 
Missouri the United States is again the world's only super power. We 
again are leading the world into a new age. Just as America's 
principled leadership was required for victory in the Cold War, so will 
our moral strength be required to face the challenges of the future.
  Mr. President, I think it is only fitting that today we take a few 
moments to recognize and thank those Americans who served our 
government throughout the long years of the Cold War. Without their 
dedication, bravery, and sacrifice our victory would not have been 
possible. I am pleased to join Congressman Lazio in recognizing these 
Americans and I know my colleagues in the Senate join me in this 
expression of thanks.

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