[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 124 (Wednesday, September 11, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1584]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   TRIBUTE TO THE NORTHPORT VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTER AND THE 
NASSAU/SUFFOLK CHAPTER OF AMERICAN EX-PRISONERS OF WAR IN HONOR OF THE 
                 1996 POW/MIA RECOGNITION DAY CEREMONY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL P. FORBES

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 11, 1996

  Mr. FORBES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Northport 
Veterans Affairs Medical Center and the Nassau/Suffolk County Chapter 
of American Ex-Prisoners of War, in honor of the 1996 POW/MIA 
Recognition Day ceremony they are sponsoring on Monday, September 16, 
in Northport, Long Island, NY.
  Joining Commander Martin Andrews of the Nassau/Suffolk Chapter of 
American Ex-Prisoners of War and Director E.M. Travers, M.D. of the 
Northport Veterans Affairs Medical Center will be former prisoners of 
war, who will share their own personal accounts of their time in 
captivity.
  I strongly believe the Federal Government has a sacred responsibility 
to determine, to the fullest extent possible, the fate of our missing 
military personnel and to share that information with their family. 
That's why we must provide due process for those who are desperately 
seeking the true fate of their loved ones and establish accountability 
measures for all American military service personnel who become missing 
in action or prisoners of war.
  As a former prisoner of war, Commander Andrews knows firsthand the 
personal pain and suffering of being imprisoned by a wartime foe. 
That's why he and his wife volunteer at the Northport VA Medical 
Center's VIP (Very Important Patient/Persons) Customer Service 
Enhancement Program, to give something back to these true American 
patriots. The VIP Program recognizes valuable employees and volunteers 
as ambassadors who are committed to improving service to our veterans.
  VA-VIP ambassadors greet visitors, answer questions about the medical 
center, provide directions and assistance to those needing help getting 
from their car, and provide care and courtesy to all visitors. This is 
the kind of program our brave service men and women have earned the 
right to expect and deserve.
  As we gather together on September 16 to pay the highest honor and 
tribute to ex-prisoners of war like Arnold Bocksel, who will be on hand 
to give his own personal reflections of his time in captivity, I call 
upon my fellow Members of Congress to join me in expressing personal 
heartfelt thanks and gratitude for their outstanding service to our 
country.
  Thank you Commander Andrews, Senior Vice Commander Thomas McGee, 
Junior Vice Commander Raymond Ives, and all members of the Nassau/
Suffolk Chapter of American Ex-Prisoners of War, we are all glad to 
have you back.

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