[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 156 (Saturday, November 8, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12213-S12214]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             CLAY COUNTY VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK DEDICATION

  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I rise this evening to speak about a 
dedication ceremony that will take place tomorrow afternoon in the city 
of Lineville in Clay County, AL. Mr. President, I would first like to 
take this opportunity to express my deep regret for not having been 
able to be in Lineville this afternoon with those who have gathered for 
the dedication of the Clay County Veterans Memorial Park. I would be 
remiss if I did not also take this opportunity to offer my sincerest 
thanks to Alabama State Senator Gerald Dial and the other members of 
the Veterans Memorial Board for working hard to make the Clay County 
Veterans Memorial Park a reality and for extending an invitation to me 
to participate in their dedication ceremony.
  Mr. President, I make these remarks tonight for one reason. Simply, 
It is about honor. Certainly, not personal honor. That is one variety 
we are all familiar with. No, the type of honor to which I am referring 
is the uncommon variety. It is the variety that we bestow as a tribute 
on special occasions for veterans and other heros in our society who 
made the supreme sacrifice.
  In less than 24 hours, my constituents will gather to honor all the 
men and women who, over the years, left their homes and loved ones, 
their jobs, friends and neighbors all over Clay County to answer a 
special calling. The veterans they honor might have grown up in Delta, 
in Ashland, in Cragford, in Hollins, in Millerville, in Barfield, in 
Lineville or anywhere in between, but even though they may have been 
separated by the miles and the years between them, a common thread ran 
through each of their lives. They were all connected by their love for 
this land and this country.
  We should take a moment to reflect on that for a minute--connected by 
a distinguishable act of love of country and a willingness to serve 
that country where ever it directed. Hence, Mr. President, I stand here 
tonight to join them in paying homage, to show our respect, and our 
sincerest appreciation for the sacrifices that these patriots made for 
our country. Sacrifices that ensured the freedom you and I enjoy today 
and our children's children will enjoy years from now. With the 
dedication of this memorial park they are simply saying thank you to 
all those who have gone before, those who believed enough in freedom to 
risk their lives.
  In commemorating the memory of these friends and loved ones, we are 
reflecting on a glorious past, but we are also pausing, I think, for a 
moment to look forward in time with a hopeful spirit and a pledge of 
unwavering support to the young men and women in communities all around 
this great Nation that we will unconditionally support them just as we 
supported those we honor today.
  The Clay County Veterans Memorial Park will be as much an emblem of 
the courageous spirit and bravery of patriots from yesteryear, as it 
will be a beacon of hope and source of strength for future generations. 
I pledge to do my part to make sure that we remain the strongest and 
greatest country in the world, and we defend our just national 
interest.
  Mr. President, ours is both an important and a unique moment in 
history. We no longer live in the bipolar world that shaped our lives 
and our political consciousness over the last half century. The 
monolithic presence of the Soviet Union has been replaced by new 
threats. We live in a rapidly changing world where our ability to adapt 
and our commitment to remain a world leader will be tested by both the 
cunning and the strong. The veterans being honored today defeated Nazi 
Fascism, brought Soviet Communism to its knees, were victorious against 
tyranny, and protected democracy and

[[Page S12214]]

freedom around the world. They led our country through times of 
conflict and war to the edge of the 21st century.
  Had I been able to be with my constituents today, I would have 
reminded them that as our Nation moves forward we will face new 
national defense considerations. We must maintain a strong military, 
and I will give my full support to our men and women in uniform. The 
military must, I believe, be capable of protecting our interests and 
the lives of our soldiers in places like Bosnia, Korea, and the Middle 
East when asked to do so. We must therefore provide our service men and 
women with the best training, the best equipment, the best information, 
and the best overall opportunity for success under any circumstance, so 
that when they are called to perform, they will emerge victorious.
  We have approached a time of major historical significance in the 
area of foreign policy and international cooperation. We have new and 
exciting opportunities to promote peace and prosperity throughout the 
world that many of us may never have thought possible. The winds of 
democracy and economic prosperity now blow in Eastern Europe precisely 
because of the sacrifices of those being honored today. Mr. President, 
patriots from Clay County, AL fought and died to make this prosperity 
possible. The overwhelming desire on the part of counties around the 
world to emulate us--to be like America is a testament to our proud 
past and an example of fairness that is the hallmark of our society.
  We are, I truly believe, standing on the brink of a change of 
historic proportions. It represents a step forward for peace and 
cooperation that will surely carry us well into the 21st century. We 
must always remember those who made this possible. I am reminded of a 
quote by Gen. Douglas MacArthur on April 19, 1951, as he spoke before 
Congress. He said that, ``Old soldiers never die, they just fade 
away.'' Tomorrow will be a great day for Clay County. Memorial Park is 
for the veterans, living and dead, who fought so that freedom, our 
freedom, would never perish. It also represents that community's 
commitment to a memory of sacrifices made, and promises kept.
  Mr. President, I thank the citizens of Clay County for their 
individual sacrifices, and hope that they will find solace in this 
place they gather to dedicate today. It is also my hope that they will 
find solace in the knowledge that their sacrifices are honorable too, 
and as lasting and worthy as the sacrifices of those who have gone on 
before them.
  I thank the Chair.

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