[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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