[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 159 (Wednesday, November 12, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2331-E2332]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                     VETERANS DAY IS AMERICA'S DAY

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                         HON. NICK J. RAHALL II

                            of west virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 12, 1997

  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend to my colleagues an 
article that was published in the Charleston Gazette of Charleston WV. 
The article was written by a constituent of the Third Congressional 
District of West Virginia and a national vice commander of the American 
Legion, Mr. Robert Vass, Sr., of Huntington, WV.
  I am sure that many of my colleagues spent yesterday the same way 
that I did, visiting with constituents to celebrate Veterans Day. 
Entire communities come together on November

[[Page E2332]]

11 each year to honor those who have served our Nation in the Armed 
Forces. Veterans Day is an opportunity to remember those who have given 
their life in service and to remind ourselves of our responsibility to 
care for those veterans who still need assistance.
  As Mr. Vass writes, veterans continue to serve our Nation, even after 
leaving the military. Not only are they ready to serve in time of war, 
they remain active in times of peace. Veterans and active-duty 
personnel alike are active in our communities by volunteering at 
hospitals, sponsoring scouting and athletic programs for youths, 
providing scholarships or students and donating thousands and thousands 
of hours in volunteer service in their communities.
  I share my good friend's column with my colleagues because it reminds 
us that Veterans Day is not just a day for veterans and their families; 
it is America's Day. It is a day for Americans to ``express 
appreciation for the contributions of all veterans up upholding the 
values for which these patriots sacrificed.'' And it is a day for all 
Americans, to be like veterans, and to involve themselves in their 
communities.
  Mr. Speaker, I have included a copy of Bob Vass column and ask that 
it be printed following my statement.

          [From the Charleston Gazette, Friday, Nov. 7, 1997]

   Veterans Day is America's day--Holiday Honors Those Who Sacrificed

                        (By Robert E. Vass, Sr.)

       I'm proud to be one of countless Americans who in the 
     tradition of the citizen-soldier fighting for America's 
     independence, served in our nation's armed forces. I served 
     in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II.
       Veterans Day, Nov. 11, is not only my day; it is American's 
     day. On this day, in events ranging from solemn to 
     spectacular--in sprawling cities and in small towns--
     Americans will honor those who sacrificed for freedom.
       Men and women of all races, creeds and social stations have 
     stood in harm's way in World War I, World War II, Korea, 
     Vietnam, Lebanon, Panama, Grenada and the Persian Gulf. More 
     than a million of them, including my wartime contemporaries , 
     forfeited all of their tomorrows in their youth so that the 
     core values of our nation--freedom, justice and equality--
     might grow old.
       A simple gesture of gratefulness is all veterans want on 
     Veterans Day. Whether you a veteran or not, you can 
     poignantly express appreciation for the contributions of all 
     veterans by upholding the values for which these patriots 
     sacrificed.
       I and my comrades in the American Legion support 
     traditional American values here and in thousands of other 
     communities nationwide. We carry on a tradition of community 
     service dating back to the Legion's founding in 1919.
       We advocate policies upholding law and order, a strong 
     national defense, a full accounting of those listed either as 
     missing in action or as prisoners of war, and just 
     compensation for veterans, with service-connected 
     disabilities. The latter includes thousands of Gulf War 
     veterans who went to the region healthy and returned with 
     ailments of mysterious origin.
       We volunteer in Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals. 
     We help veterans file claims for benefits. We sponsor 
     programs which instill traditional values in young people, 
     including Scouts, high school ROTC, American Legion Baseball, 
     American Legion Boys State and Boys Nation, Junior Shooting 
     Sports, and the National High School Oratorical Contest.
       West Virginia Legionnaires last year donated 38,436 hours 
     of service to their communities, awarded $63,664 worth of 
     scholarships to 70 deserving West Virginia students, and 
     donated 459 pints of blood to West Virginia blood collection 
     centers.
       Above all, consistent with our support for the 
     Constitution, Legionnaires believe ``we the people'' must 
     have a voice in how our nation is governed. On this premise, 
     the U.S. Senate should do what the House did in June: Pass a 
     constitutional amendment to return to the people the right to 
     protect the flag of the United States from physical 
     desecration.
       Ordinary citizens must reinforce America's core values 
     through service to God and country and participation in our 
     governance. That's what the American Legion is all about on 
     Veterans Day and every day. And that's what we all must be 
     about on Veterans Day and every day.
       Veterans Day is America's day.

       

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