[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 116 (Thursday, August 1, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1456-E1457]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        ANSWERING AMERICA'S CALL

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. PETER G. TORKILDSEN

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, August 1, 1996

  Mr. TORKILDSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to enter into the 
Congressional record a speech made by an outstanding young man from 
Massachusetts, one who reminded me just how important it is to remember 
who made this country what it is today, the greatest country in the 
world. The son of Arthur and Susan Silbert of Ipswich, Christopher 
Barletta is an 18-year-old who recently graduated from Ipswich High 
School in Massachusetts. Aside from being an accomplished musician, 
Chris was one of just 54 students chosen among 116,000 who participated 
in a contest sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars and its Ladies 
Auxiliary. Chris's speech expresses just how fortunate we are to be 
Americans.
  The contest theme this year was ``Answering America's Call.'' Mr. 
Barletta's speech touched upon such topics as the Normandy invasion, 
victory parades for the fighting men and women across the country, and 
the willingness of people to help their country any way they could. In 
short, he outlined ways people were proud of the America they called 
home, they were proud to be Americans.
  We in Congress need to remember that most of what makes America great 
does not come from Washington. America's greatness resides in the 
cities, towns, churches, synagoges, community organizations, and most 
importantly the citizens across the country. It resides in the work and 
dedication of Americans like Christopher Barletta. Mr. Speaker, I 
applaud what this young man wrote and request that it be entered into 
the Congressional record.

                        Answering America's Call

                       (By Christopher Barletta)

       A little while back I found myself rummaging through an old 
     cedar chest that my family keeps tucked away in our basement. 
     The chest is an heirloom that has been passed down from 
     generation to generation but there are things added to it 
     constantly, ``new memories'' if you will. During my search I 
     came across some remarkable things: some black and white 
     photographs of relatives that I never had the good fortune of 
     meeting. Some sheet music written by my uncle and friend 
     Irving Berlin and a baseball signed by the 1954 Boston Red 
     Sox: but the one thing that I came across that I cherished 
     the most and took an interest in was my grandfather's army 
     jacket from his service in World War II. It was green with 
     three gold buttons up the front and had some sort of 
     triangular design on the left sleeve. I tried it on only to 
     discover that it was much too large for me, so I placed the 
     moth-ball-scented jacket back into the chest.
       I then started to see visions that are familiar to all of 
     us: the Normandy invasion, parades for the victorious 
     American fighting man and hundreds of proud Americans waving 
     their country's flag. People were proud of the America they 
     called home. Men were willing to flight for her beliefs, 
     while women went to work in shops and plants, supplying our 
     armed forces with the tools they needed to win battles in 
     Europe and the South Pacific. Today, however, things have 
     changed: attitudes have warped and pride is gone. Are people 
     willing to go to war without being drafted? Are men and women 
     willing to do manual labor in factories to supply our Defense 
     Department? Would we win World War II again if it were to 
     happen tomorrow? If America were to call for our assistance, 
     our sacrifice, how would we answer her call? Would we answer 
     her call at all? Are we even listening?
       The point is that these questions didn't exist during the 
     1940's. People understood their role in being an American. It 
     was understood that men would fight for their country, their 
     families, and their way of life. An American's work was a 
     priority. People knew what they were expected to do as 
     Americans--and did it. Too many Americans today are lazy. 
     They have forgotten their role, their purpose, and their way 
     of life.

[[Page E1457]]

     They no longer put pride into the watch or car that they help 
     create, the way they used to. They no longer appreciate the 
     privilege of voting, or bother to exercise it.
       They don't even show respect to other people. As President 
     Jimmy Carter said, ``America is suffering from a sickness of 
     spirit.'' All my grandfather does now is complain about how 
     the country is going downhill, and how the poverty level is 
     out of control. He's a good man, but he is one of America's 
     problems, along with the 250 million other Americans who love 
     to complain but do nothing to solve the problems they 
     complain about. As Edmund Burke said, ``The only thing 
     necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do 
     nothing.'' It is time for each and every one of us to start 
     answering America's call.
       The answer is as simple as respect, generosity, and pride. 
     Each one of us has the heart to volunteer some of our time to 
     helping someone else. I don't mean something as monumental as 
     taking someone in to live in our homes, or even giving them 
     money. Let's start small, but let's start now. I mean, let's 
     say hello to people on the street. I know how good a hello 
     makes me feel. Let's look around and notice each other, let's 
     respect our fellow Americans for who they are and let's 
     accept our differences. Let's enjoy each other. Let's 
     celebrate our diversity.
       And let's do things right the first time instead of letting 
     the next person do them. Let's take pride in ourselves, our 
     fellow Americans, and all the men and women who fought so 
     that we could have what we do today: the freedom to choose. 
     America is still the land of opportunity, and we are still 
     entitled to pursue our own happiness. Let's not take what we 
     have for granted by only doing what we have to do. We can 
     help every American learn to respect the country we call home 
     enough to assume a fair share of responsibility for her well-
     being. When each of us answers America's call, we ensure not 
     only our own freedom, but the continued freedom of 
     generations to come. Let us do all that is necessary now, so 
     that one day when my curious grandson feels like browsing 
     through a cedar chest in his family's basement, he won't need 
     to question what has happened. He will be free to experience 
     a simple surge of pride and respect for himself, his family, 
     and his country--and he will naturally understand and 
     undertake his duty to America.

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