[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 139 (Wednesday, October 8, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1966-E1967]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     CAPE VERDEAN VETERANS HONOR THE MEMORY OF PVT. EDWARD ALMEIDA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BARNEY FRANK

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, October 8, 1997

  Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, on November 10, the Cape 
Verdean American Veterans Association headquartered in New Bedford, MA 
will be holding a military ball, which will be an occasion of mixed 
feelings.

[[Page E1967]]

As with any ball, the occasion will be one for good friends to enjoy 
each others company, as well as some good music. But there will be a 
sad note to this particular ball because it will commemorate the death 
in July 1965 of Pvt. Edward Almeida, who was the first New Bedford 
resident to be killed in action during the conflict in Vietnam.
  It is typical of the Cape Verdean veterans that they are honoring the 
memory of their fallen comrade on this occasion, and that they will be 
on this Veteran's Day tempering their good fellowship with a 
remembrance of the ultimate sacrifice made by Private Almedia, whose 
dedication to duty, honor, and country stand as a model for others. 
Because of a previous commitment I made some time ago to speak to 
university students, I will myself be unable to join the Cape Verdean 
Veterans and Auxiliary, and their friends in the Greater New Bedford 
community in this evening. But I believe with Veteran's Day approaching 
that it is important that all of us take this occasion to pay tribute 
to Private Almeida and all of those who, like him, made the ultimate 
sacrifice for their country and their fellow Americans. The cape 
Verdean American veterans deserve to be congratulated for their 
dedication to the memory of their fallen colleague, and to the 
important work they continue to do to make sure that America remembers 
both those who gave their lives for their country, and those who have 
returned from foreign wars and are entitled to our gratitude and 
support for their efforts.

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