[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 160 (Thursday, November 13, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12522-S12523]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              VETERANS DAY

  Mr. GLENN. Mr. President, earlier this week, we celebrated a national 
holiday, Veterans Day. We were not in session on that day, November 11, 
so I want to make a few comments about that day and what it means to 
our country.
  Veterans Day comes from the Armistice Day that ended World War I in 
1918. The armistice was signed that day at 11 o'clock in the morning 
with the hope that that would be the war to end all wars. As we look 
back on what has happened since that time, we know

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that that is not what happened, however, that is the way World War I 
was billed at that time.
  Later, Armistice Day was changed to Veterans Day to better represent 
all the conflicts that this country has ever participated in. I think 
it is good that we have a day where we can reflect on, and commemorate 
those who took part in those wars.
  However, sometimes on that day, we are reminded that appreciation for 
the military, and for their sacrifices, does not get its proper 
attention. I am reminded of the old Kipling poem where he talks about 
how the lack of appreciation for our military occurs, or seems to 
occur, in those time periods when they are most needed.
  Kipling was British, and in Britain, GI's were called tommies. In his 
famous poem Kipling wrote:

       It's Tommy this, an' Tommy that,
       an' ``Chuck him out, the brute!''
       But it's ``Savior of 'is country''
       when the guns begin to shoot.

  We tend to forget about the sacrifices our military personnel when 
peace breaks out. History shows us that over the last 100 years or so, 
we have had approximately 17-year cycles of war and peace. It is 
amazing, almost uncanny, how our military buildups and downgrades fit 
into that 17-year cycle. In fact, the only conflict that occurred 
outside of that pattern was World War II, which was only about 4 years 
off the 17-year cycle. I can only hope that our current period of peace 
will break that 17-year cycle.
  On Veterans Day, we recognize those who have gone through these 
cycles before us. It is a time to point out some of the sacrifices they 
made, the devotion to duty that they were required to perform, and the 
courage that they exhibited. It is a time to say, ``The professionalism 
of our military saved lives.''
  Veterans themselves, do not need a special day, because they remember 
their own experiences in the military. They do not need a special day 
because those times are forever etched in their memories. They remember 
the people that they were associated with, their friends, people of all 
walks of life. They remember the rich, the poor, the advantaged, the 
disadvantaged; all tossed together, rubbing elbows, in what is the 
finest military in the world. They remember the places where they were 
stationed, their training, and they certainly remember their days in 
combat, which is forever etched on their memory, like nothing else out 
of their past.
  Some survived and some did not. Veterans Day is a time to go back and 
remember those people. It is time, not just for veterans, but for all 
Americans, to remember that this country was built on the sacrifices of 
the brave men and women who served in the military, and protected our 
country. It is a day to remember and appreciate what made this country, 
the greatest nation in the world.
  Mr. President, another important day occurred early this week and I 
would like to make a few remarks about it also.

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