[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 67 (Tuesday, May 20, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4691-S4694]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 COMMEMORATING THE 15TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CONSTRUCTION AND DEDICATION 
                    OF THE VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL

  Mr. HAGEL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate now 
proceed to the consideration of Senate Resolution 87, submitted by 
myself, along with my colleague Senator Bob Kerrey of Nebraska and 
others.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 87) commemorating the 15th 
     anniversary of the construction and dedication of the Vietnam 
     Veterans Memorial.

  The Senate proceeded to consider the resolution.
  Mr. HAGEL. Mr. President, I rise today to submit a resolution 
commemorating the 15th anniversary of the construction and dedication 
of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, also known as ``The Wall.'' I am 
pleased to be joined in this effort by my distinguished colleague from 
Nebraska, my senior Senator, Bob Kerrey, who, incidentally, is the only 
Member of this body who was a recipient of the Medal of Honor for his 
service in Vietnam. I

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also am joined by the other Vietnam combat veterans who serve in this 
body. In all, 75 Senators have joined in cosponsoring this resolution.
  The creation of this memorial marked the beginning of a healing 
process for the Nation and for veterans divided by the war. I was proud 
to have spoken at the 1982 groundbreaking for the Vietnam Veterans 
Memorial, as did two of my colleagues, Senator Robb, who then was 
Governor of Virginia, and Senator John Warner.
  I keep in my Senate office, Mr. President, a shovel I used during the 
groundbreaking ceremony 15 years ago to remind me of that day. While 
the debate over our involvement in Vietnam and the conduct of the war 
will continue for years to come, the wall has united Americans in 
honoring those who served. It honors warriors, not the war. The Vietnam 
wall stands as a stirring reminder that memorials are built not to 
honor or glorify war. There is no glory in a war, only suffering. 
Memorials are built to honor the commitment and the sacrifice that men 
and women give to their country because they are willing to risk their 
lives in defense of freedom.
  As we commemorate the 15th anniversary of the groundbreaking for the 
Vietnam Veterans Memorial, it is important that we remember those brave 
men and brave women who fought and died for liberties we take for 
granted, and it is important we remember their families who also 
sacrificed for this Nation.
  Recently I was joined in a ceremony to mark the wall's 15th 
anniversary by my friends and colleagues, Senators Bob Kerrey of 
Nebraska, John McCain of Arizona, Max Cleland of Georgia, John Kerry of 
Massachusetts, and Chuck Robb of Virginia. We come from different 
States and different parties, but despite our differences, we six U.S. 
Senators have a common background. We are all Vietnam combat veterans. 
We attended the ceremony on behalf of every man and woman who served in 
Vietnam, every man and woman who gave their life in Vietnam, every 
Vietnam veteran who is still missing in that far away land, and every 
family in this country who sacrificed to keep this Nation strong.
  We marked the anniversary of this groundbreaking in order to remind 
us all that the liberties we cherish do not come without great 
sacrifice. One needs only to run a hand over the rough names inscribed 
in the smooth glossy surface of the wall to realize that freedom is not 
free. As we laid a wreath in honor of the 58,202 men and women whose 
lives are memorialized by the names, each of us realized we could 
easily have been present only in the memories of those who survived. 
We, too, could have been listed on the wall.

  We also remembered and honored the more than 2,000 Americans still 
missing in action from this war. Mr. President, this morning I noted 
that our new Ambassador to Vietnam, Ambassador Pete Petersen, a 
Nebraska native, held as a POW in Vietnam for more than 6 years, 
received the remains of two of our MIA's yesterday in Vietnam.
  Each year, more than 3 million people visit the Vietnam Memorial, 
making it the most visited monument in Washington. Many visitors are so 
moved they leave flowers, letters, pictures, and other mementoes to 
their fallen comrades, parents, relatives, friends, children, and loved 
ones.
  Next weekend, Memorial Day weekend, the traveling Vietnam memorial 
will come to Omaha, NE. It is a half-scale replica of the wall that 
stands here in Washington. It has visited cities and States across 
America so Americans who may never visit the Nation's Capital can 
experience the healing power of the Vietnam wall.
  The resolution before the Senate today is an important statement by 
the Senate to mark the 15th year of the wall and all that wall has 
meant to so many. I am proud to be a sponsor and am grateful for my 
colleagues' support.
  Mr. President, I yield time to my distinguished colleague, friend, 
and fellow Vietnam veteran, Senator Bob Kerrey.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Nebraska is recognized.
  Mr. KERREY. Mr. President, I yield such time as desired to the 
distinguished Senator from Virginia.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Virginia is recognized.
  Mr. ROBB. Mr. President, I will take a minute to commend my two 
colleagues from Nebraska for introducing this particular resolution 
today. I was pleased to join with them a few weeks ago over at the 
Vietnam Memorial.
  It was my privilege 15 years ago to participate in both the 
groundbreaking and the dedication. I have had many visits to that 
memorial since. I think it is very clear that it has served a purpose 
even beyond the expectations of those who created it and those who were 
initially involved in the dedication ceremonies. It has a healing 
effect for all of those who visit, regardless of what their personal 
feelings may have been about the conflict itself. They recognize that 
we come together to honor those warriors who gave the last full measure 
to their country, and the notes that are left behind are the kind of 
communication that I would defy anyone to read without feeling some of 
the emotion that is involved in it.
  I commend both Senator Hagel and Senator Kerrey for this particular 
resolution this morning, and I commend it to all of our colleagues as 
an appropriate remembrance of those friends and those who wore our 
uniform in terms of service to our country in the conflict in Vietnam.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Nebraska.
  Mr. KERREY. Mr. President, along with my colleague, my good friend, 
Senator Chuck Hagel from my home State of Nebraska, we are offering the 
Vietnam Veterans Memorial resolution to remember this memorial, but 
also to remind Americans that the possibility for healing exists in 
this memorial. There are constant reminders that open the wounds of 
this war once again.
  As Senator Hagel mentioned, in today's paper we read that our first 
Ambassador to Vietnam since we left in 1975, Pete Petersen, is coming 
back to the United States of America and bringing with him the remains 
of men who were killed in that war, once again, opening up, for a 
variety of reasons, a wound that makes it difficult for people to go on 
with their lives.
  Mr. President, this wall does a remarkable thing. It does enable an 
individual to begin to heal from this particular war, or for other 
wars, as well. On this Memorial Day we ask the Senate and we ask the 
American people to take a moment to reflect and remember those who 
served in Vietnam during this Nation's longest conflict.
  I served in Vietnam with five of my Senator colleagues, Senator Chuck 
Robb, who was here a few moments ago, Senator John Kerry, Senator John 
McCain, Senator Max Cleland, and Senator Chuck Hagel, and although we 
may argue legislation from different sides of the aisle, we share a 
bond beyond politics and beyond party, as do veterans of all conflicts, 
and are firm in the belief that we are all Americans first and 
foremost.
  As we gather with friends and with family in observance of Memorial 
Day, I urge all Americans to take time to reflect upon the day's true 
meaning. Whether we attend a public observance, mark a grave, or simply 
bow our heads in quiet reflection, we should remember to honor those 
who, by serving, put their faith and trust in the ideals for which our 
Nation stands.
  Mr. President, my colleague from Nebraska and I offer this resolution 
and feel it especially fitting because this August the Vietnam Veterans 
Memorial will be 15 years old, almost as old as the conflict was long. 
On May 24, 1997, more than 22 years after the last known United States 
casualty, the Vietnam Moving Memorial will pay a visit to Omaha, NE. 
For thousands of Vietnam veterans and their families, this memorial 
serves as a place of reconciliation and remembrance. It invites people 
to come and remember the bravery and valor of their fallen friends, 
family, and colleagues, while serving as well, Mr. President, as a 
permanent tribute to those who gave their lives.
  Through this resolution, and in observation of this 15th anniversary, 
I hope the Senate will encourage all Americans to remember to honor the 
memory of the brave men and women who fought and died in service to our 
Nation during the Vietnam war, and indeed all conflicts.
  Mr. President, at the dedication of the Bunker Hill Memorial on June 
17,

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1825, Daniel Webster closed his speech with these words:

       Let our object be our country, our whole country and 
     nothing but our country. And by the blessing of God may that 
     country itself become a vast and splendid monument, not of 
     oppression and terror, but of wisdom, peace, and of liberty, 
     upon which the world may gaze with admiration, forever.

  We honor those who have come before us not just with the memory of 
their efforts, but by building upon the freedom and prosperity we enjoy 
because of their sacrifice. The men and women we pay tribute to during 
this and every Memorial Day deserve nothing less.
  Mr. President, as I have said, one doesn't have to look very far for 
reminders of the divisive nature of this war, and one doesn't have to 
look very far for inspiration that enables us to overcome the worst of 
these memories.
  Indeed, I had the pleasure of sitting with the Presiding Officer and 
listening to his presentation to a roomful of young heroes who had been 
recognized for their service, and recognized in particular for their 
service at the community level--young men and women who saw something 
in their community they didn't like, saw something in their community 
that they thought was wrong, and decided on their own to correct that 
wrong.
  I heard the Senator from Arkansas say that he heard a long time ago a 
young girl talking about what it meant to be famous; what it meant to 
acquire fame. She wanted in her lifetime to be a famous person. Then 
she came to Washington, DC, and while at the Tomb of the Unknown 
Soldier realized that fame by no means is the only object of our lives, 
nor should be the only object of our lives; that one can be a hero 
without recognition; that one can serve God and other human beings as a 
consequence of just believing that something needs to be done without 
regard to whether or not it would be recognized in headlines, or radio 
commentary, or television broadcasts.
  It is the most eloquent demonstration of why we as human beings are 
special; that we have inside of us a soul, a spirit that recognizes 
that at some point the greatest thing we can do is to say that somebody 
is more important than we are, that something is out there more 
important than just taking care of ourselves.
  I believe strongly, Mr. President, that we are not free until in 
love, and recognize that until in love we are willing to give 
ourselves. And I hope that this remembrance of the Vietnam Memorial 
will not just inspire people to say that we have got to get over the 
Vietnam war itself but I hope it will allow Americans as individual men 
and women to see that now in this moment heroes are needed more than 
ever before.
  This Nation was terribly divided in the Vietnam war, with families 
turning against families, sons against fathers, and neighbors against 
neighbors.
  On this floor on August 7, 1964, the Senate, by a vote of 88 to 2, 
and the House unanimously, enacted what was called the Gulf of Tonkin 
resolution that resulted in a substantial buildup of forces, of 
increased drafting, of increased calls going out to young men saying, 
``It is time for you to serve the cause of freedom.'' That cause 
deteriorated and divided this Nation in a terrible fashion, and caused 
Americans to say not only do we question the cause of freedom but cause 
us as well to say that we no longer believe our Government; we no 
longer trust that this is a Government of, by, and for the people. ``We 
feel as if we have been lied to. And the trust is broken, it has been 
snapped, it is permanent, and we are not going to put it back 
together.''
  This wall, this remembrance, enables us to see that trust can be put 
back together, if we are willing to forgive; if we are willing to say 
that we forgive those with whom we disagreed; that we recognize our 
common bond. And on this Memorial Day not only do we pay tribute to 
those who have sacrificed for us, but we rededicate ourselves to the 
task of sacrificing for others.
  Mr. President, it is a pleasure and an honor for me to share 
cosponsorship with my friend and colleague from Nebraska, Senator 
Hagel, and all the other Members of the Senate who have joined in this 
resolution. I appreciate their support.
  I call upon Americans not just to see this as another resolution but 
to see this as a Memorial Day, as an opportunity for us to rededicate 
ourselves to the cause of freedom.
  Mr. HAGEL addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Nebraska.
  Mr. HAGEL. Mr. President, I thank my colleague and friend from 
Nebraska for those inspirational words, and I think words that are 
focused exactly on the heart of who we are as a people, who we have 
always been, and hopefully who we will always be.
  Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I am grateful to be an original cosponsor 
with my distinguished colleagues and fellow Vietnam veterans in the 
Senate. It is appropriate that we commemorate the 15th anniversary of 
the dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC.
  My fellow Vietnam veterans who are cosponsoring this resolution and I 
wear glasses and have more gray hair than we did when we served in 
Vietnam, we come from different walks of life, served in different 
branches of the military, and were of different ranks. However, we 
share the experiences of combat that only those who went to Vietnam 
will ever understand.
  We also share--and this is harder to explain--the survivors' 
humility. That's a provocative statement, I know, and the nonveteran 
may easily mistake its meaning. I am not talking about shame. I know of 
no shame in surviving combat. But every combat veteran remembers those 
comrades whose sacrifice was eternal. Their loss taught us everything 
about tragedy and everything about duty.
  I am grateful, as we all are, to have come home alive. I prayed daily 
for deliverance from war. No one of my acquaintance ever chose death 
over homecoming. But I witnessed some men choose death over dishonor. 
The memory of them, of what they bore for country and honor, helped me 
to see the virtue in my own humility.
  It is a surpassing irony that war, for all its unspeakable horrors, 
provides the combatant with every conceivable human experience. 
Experiences that usually take a lifetime to know are all felt--and felt 
intensely--in one brief moment of life. Anyone who loses a loved one 
knows what great loss feels like. Anyone who gives life to a child 
knows what great joy feels like. The veteran knows what great joy and 
great loss feel like when they occur in the same moment, in the same 
experience.
  For my part, I would simply affirm that the sacrifices borne by 
veterans deserve to be memorialized in something more lasting than 
marble or in the fleeting effect of a politician's speech. The 
veterans' valor and the devotion to duty have earned our country's 
abiding concern for their well-being. I am committed to honoring that 
debt.
  I hope this small symbol of remembrance today will encourage all 
Americans to remember the sacrifices of our veterans.
  Mr. KEMPTHORNE. Mr. President, I rise today in support of the Vietnam 
Veterans Memorial resolution, sponsored by my colleagues, Senator Hagel 
and Senator Kerrey of Nebraska. I would like to commend and 
congratulate them for bringing this issue before the Senate today, so 
that this body may take a moment to remember those who sacrificed their 
lives in Vietnam for our country.
  Mr. President, it is not enough for us to use mere words to express 
our deep gratitude to the men and women who fought in Vietnam, 
selflessly giving their lives to protect the interests of the United 
States. It is not enough for us to provide for the education and well-
being of the sons and daughters who have lost a parent in a country 
they may never see, for a people they may never know, and in a war they 
may never understand.
  Nothing can ever be enough, because nothing can ever bring them back.
  But here in the Nation's Capital, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial--a 
250-foot wall of polished black granite--will help us to never forget 
the sacrifice of over 58,000 Americans; 58,209 Americans to be exact.
  Seventeen more names have recently been added to the Vietnam Veterans 
Memorial. Within the past 6 months, the Central Identification 
Laboratory in Hawaii has positively identified the remains of ten more 
American servicemen found in Vietnam by Department

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of Defense on-site search teams. And seven other American servicemen 
who have since died from the complications of injuries suffered during 
the Vietnam war. It is my hope, Mr. President--no, it is my prayer--
that this will be the last time such additions are made to this 
memorial.
  How do you thank each of these brave Americans? How do you let them 
know that as a nation, we are indebted to them for their bravery, their 
valor, and their courage in fighting a war that was never officially 
recognized by the country which asked them to put their lives on the 
line? How do you tell them that they are truly American heroes?
  You do this by keeping their memories alive and by never forgetting 
them.
  The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall helps to keep those memorials 
alive, and it helps the human emotional process which includes 
mourning, healing, and remembrance. This visual reminder keeps their 
memory alive in our hearts where they will never be forgotten. And I 
would like to add that I know this from first-hand experience.
  Mr. President, last year I took part in a trade mission to Vietnam 
with several of my colleagues here in the Senate. Before leaving, one 
of the most important things I did to prepare myself for travel to 
Vietnam, was to walk alone along the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial, to 
clear my mind of all thoughts, except for those involving the 
overwhelming number of American names etched upon the wall. In that 
moment, I knew that one of the most important reasons for my visit to 
Vietnam was to be a voice for those brave men and women whom I will 
never be able to thank.
  On November 11, 1996, Veteran's Day, I was in Hanoi urging top 
Vietnamese officials to keep the resolution of the POW/MIA issue a top 
priority, and to cooperate in every way with the United States. As I 
met with Vietnam Party General Secretary Do Muoi, I told him about my 
walk along the wall, and presented him with a copy of ``The Wall,'' a 
pictorial of veterans and their families who come to pay tribute at the 
Vietnam Veteran's Memorial. Inside the cover of that book, I inscribed: 
``We have shared a tragic past together. Now let us work to share a 
bright future together.'' Our discussion then centered on building our 
relationships as nations on the basis of mutual compassion. General 
Secretary Do Muoi was very animated in his response and said, ``We 
deserve compassion, it is consistent with our history so full of blood 
and tears. Compassion is the key to our relationship.''
  Mr. President, compassion is truly the key to honoring those who paid 
the ultimate sacrifice for our country. I would hope that we, as a 
nation, never lose that compassion for our veterans, and never, ever 
allow their memories to be taken from our hearts.
  The wall is indeed a beautiful and somber monument which will ever 
remind us of those painful sacrifices made by these brave men and 
women.
  Mr. HAGEL. Mr. President, I have two final comments to make regarding 
this resolution commemorating the 15th anniversary of the Vietnam 
Veterans Memorial.
  First, the recognition of the vision, the heart, the soul, and the 
leadership behind it, a remarkable man, Jan Scruggs. It was Jan Scruggs 
who many, many years ago came home one night after a movie, sat down 
with his wife, and said, ``We are going to do something to recognize 
those who served in the Vietnam.'' It was a great dream, an impossible 
dream.
  One of the collaborators with Jan Scruggs was one of our colleagues, 
Senator John Warner. Without Senator John Warner's leadership, and 
without his force, and without Jan Scruggs' vision and leadership and 
love, this Wall would never have been built. It is very appropriate to 
recognize Jan Scruggs and Senator John Warner because those two great 
Americans led this effort and have given us a magnificent monument and 
memorial.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution, Senate 
Resolution 87, be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion 
to reconsider be laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 87) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, is as follows:

                               S. Res. 87

       Whereas 1997 marks the 15th anniversary of the construction 
     and dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in 
     Washington, D.C.;
       Whereas this memorial contains the names of more than 
     58,000 men and women who lost their lives from 1957 to 1975 
     in the Vietnam combat area or are still missing in action;
       Whereas every year millions of Americans come to this 
     monument to pay their respects for those who served in the 
     Armed Forces;
       Whereas the Vietnam Veterans Memorial has been a source of 
     comfort and healing for Vietnam veterans and the families of 
     the men and women who died while serving their country; and
       Whereas this memorial has come to represent the legacy of 
     healing that has occurred and demonstrates the application 
     all Americans have for those who made the ultimate sacrifice: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) expresses its support and gratitude for all of the men 
     and women who honorably served in the United States Armed 
     Forces in defense of freedom and democracy during the Vietnam 
     War;
       (2) extends its sympathies to all Americans who suffered 
     the loss of friends and family in Vietnam;
       (3) encourages all Americans to remember the sacrifices of 
     our veterans; and
       (4) commemorates the 15th anniversary of the construction 
     and dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

  Mr. HAGEL. Mr. President, I yield the floor. Thank you, Mr. 
President,
  Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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