[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 125 (Thursday, September 12, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1601]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       A TRIBUTE TO THE COL. ELMER E. ELLSWORTH VFW POST NO. 6328

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                        HON. GERALD B.H. SOLOMON

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 12, 1996

  Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to commemorate the golden 
anniversary of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 6328. This post, I am 
proud to say, is based in Mechanicville, NY, in the heart of my 
congressional district, and is celebrating its 50th year of service. 
And this post personifies the outstanding efforts of the entire 
nationwide membership to promote a strong national defense and to help 
veterans and their families. And that is one reason I was so pleased to 
be awarded the VFW National Commander's Congressional Award several 
years ago.
  The VFW, Mr. Speaker, has been an organization of exceptional merit 
and service to the needs of many veterans. It is only appropriate that 
those brave men and women who placed themselves in harms way overseas 
be represented by such an able organization. The members of Post No. 
6328 have been receiving just such outstanding service for 50 years 
now. It is comforting to know that those who served the needs of our 
country and fought for the principles and ideals of America all over 
the globe can depend on the support of an organization like Post No. 
6328 back home in upstate New York.
  Mr. Speaker, the service of the Col. Elmer E. Ellsworth Post in 
Mechanicville is worthy of significant recognition. This post, and 
others like it, are the reason I fought so hard to attain Department 
level status for Veterans' Affairs. When Ronald Reagan signed that 
legislation into law, veterans were finally afforded the degree of 
national consideration they deserve. The efforts of VFW posts like this 
one, Mr. Speaker, having served the needs of veterans since 1946, 
assured veterans the assistance and recognition they deserved prior to 
approval of this Government department and continue to encourage fair 
consideration of veterans' issues. And it is because of their support 
that several short months ago, I was able to pass an amendment to 
increase the dollar for veterans' hospitals by $40 million. For all of 
this and much, much more, Mr. Speaker, we owe Post No. 6328 a 
tremendous debt of gratitude.
  The famous historian George Santayana once said, ``Those who do not 
remember history are bound to repeat it.'' VFW posts all across America 
have not forgotten the past or those men and women who made the 
ultimate sacrifice for our country. I ask all Members in the House to 
rise in tribute to VFW Post No. 6328 and join me in saluting all the 
members, past and present, on the occasion of their 50th anniversary.

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