[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 66 (Thursday, May 21, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S5343]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                   HONORING VETERANS ON MEMORIAL DAY

 Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, this weekend, Americans from all 
walks of life turn their thoughts to those men and women who died in 
the service of our nation. From the early heroes of the Revolutionary 
War through those who fought and died in the Persian Gulf, about 1.1 
million Americans have sacrificed their lives to preserve our precious 
freedom and to meet our commitments to allies around the globe. We are 
privileged to enjoy the benefits of the ultimate sacrifice that those 
men and women in our Armed Forces made on our behalf. We take this day 
to honor their memory and offer our deepest gratitude.
  I remember when I was a young man, hearing those stirring words of 
President John Kennedy when he said, ``Ask not what your country can do 
for you, but what you can do for your country.'' Those words rang loud 
and clear in the hearts and minds of my generation. They captured our 
spirit and renewed our commitment to serve America.
  Perhaps the noblest heroes of my generation were those who, in the 
midst of the great debate over Vietnam, stepped forward to serve their 
country and paid the ultimate sacrifice. Those sacrifices were borne 
from the same spirit that John Kennedy urged upon all of us in 1961. 
Regardless of political persuasions, none could argue that those who 
died in Southeast Asia were not among America's finest men and women. 
We salute them today, and will always remember and be grateful for 
their patriotism and sacrifice.
  Those brave men and women who died in Vietnam, however, were not 
unique in American history. The legacy of courage, sacrifice, and 
patriotism has a long history in this country. During this century some 
33,651 Americans lost their lives in Korea, 417,316 died during World 
War II, and 117,708 perished during the First World War. Almost 500,000 
Americans--both North and South--lost their lives fighting for the 
America they believed in during the Civil War. We owe each and every 
one of those veterans and their families a debt of gratitude.
  I hope that every New Mexican and every American will take time this 
Memorial Day to find a quiet moment to consider the enormity of what 
our fallen friends and families have bequeathed us. This nation is 
blessed beyond all others---providing us with a political system that 
guarantees each of us life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We 
are free to speak our minds. We are free to practice our faiths. We are 
free to travel this great land and be with whomever we choose. These 
precious gifts of freedom have not come free. They have endured through 
the blood of American heroes and heroines. We pause this day to say 
``thank you.'' We won't forget.

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