[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 54 (Wednesday, April 30, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S3818]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       MEMBERS OF THE MINNESOTA NATIONAL GUARD DESERVE OUR THANKS

  Mr. GRAMS. Mr. President, as we discuss the topic of voluntarism, I 
rise today to acknowledge a group of individuals who are making a very 
big difference, a tremendous difference as the people of Minnesota are 
fighting the floodwaters that have paralyzed so much of our State.
  The men and women of the Minnesota National Guard have stepped up 
these last several weeks and served with distinction under what have 
been very deplorable conditions. Battling a rising river is back-
breaking work in itself. It is nearly impossible when combined with the 
ice and the extreme cold produced by a blizzard. Yet those are the 
conditions that the Guard endured as they worked side by side with the 
residents of Minnesota's flood devastated communities.
  Well over 2,000 National Guard troops have been called up to assist 
in both preventing flood damage and cleaning up when the waters finally 
begin to recede. These are men and women who have full-time jobs and 
lives outside the Guard and take time away from their other 
responsibilities to fulfill an obligation they feel to Minnesota and 
its communities. Many of the mayors and elected officials within the 
declared disaster area told me that the Guard has been such an integral 
part of their flood response efforts that they cannot imagine being 
without their assistance. The National Guard have always been 
instrumental in so many ways, in so many communities, that it is nearly 
impossible to list every activity in which they have been involved.

  Now, as the flood waters began to rise, they helped with the 
sandbagging that saved so many homes and buildings. They went door to 
door, urging residents to leave before the waters forced them to go. 
They put their engineering expertise to work, finding ways to ward off 
the flooding. And when it came time to evacuate, the National Guard 
played a key role moving Minnesotans to safety, whether by helicopter 
or truck, and helped evacuate nursing homes and hospitals. When all the 
residents were gone, they were there to guard the deserted towns and 
kept away sightseers and potential looters. The Guard's water 
purification units and electrical generators have been invaluable 
during the flooding.
  The members of the Minnesota National Guard have served with little 
sleep and under the worst of conditions, but they have continually 
exceeded our expectations and they deserve a great deal of the credit 
for leading us through this time of crisis. Without the Guard, I think 
it is safe to say that a great many more lives would have been lost and 
a great deal more property would have been damaged. They have earned 
the respect and the deep gratitude of all Minnesotans and I salute them 
for standing with us and I thank them for their service.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Georgia.

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