[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 85 (Wednesday, June 16, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S7154]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            TRIBUTE TO CLARENCE LIEN, PURPLE HEART RECIPIENT

 Mr. GRAMS. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to 
Clarence Lien of Forest Lake, Minnesota. On June 7, 1999, I had the 
great honor of presenting a belated Purple heart to Clarence. He is 
most deserving of this long overdue recognition. I take this 
opportunity to congratulate Clarence and thank him for his service and 
sacrifice.
  Mr. President, I ask to have printed in the Record remarks by 
Clarence Lien made at his award presentation.
  The remarks follow:

                        Remarks by Clarence Lien

       I am a bit overwhelmed. I honestly didn't think this would 
     ever happen, but I'm glad it did. And I'm really amazed that 
     all of you would take time to come here today to be part of 
     this. I feel lucky, I feel honored.
       And you know that I'm not a speech maker, or a big talker 
     for that matter. But there is one thing that I would talk 
     about, and that one thing is ``freedom''.
       Next to family, freedom is the most precious thing that you 
     have. When I was in Stalag 17, I had a lot of time to think. 
     And when you are in a situation where everything is taken 
     away from you, you quickly realize where your priorities are. 
     I can tell you, as if it was yesterday, that the things that 
     I missed the most were my family and my freedom.
       Freedom is a word we all know and to many of us, take for 
     granted. But, boy, if you don't have it for a year or so, you 
     realize what a gift it is. Imagine, if you can, being told 
     when or if you can eat, and what you can eat. Imagine someone 
     else dictating when you can speak, and what you can say. Try 
     to visualize being afraid for your life every waking moment.
       Freedom gives you the ability to make decisions, right and 
     wrong ones. When you have that taken away, it makes you feel 
     like an animal, a caged animal at that.
       Freedom to me is a treasure.
       There is something odd to me about the word ``free''. In 
     every day living, we think free means ``At no cost.'' But 
     that is so far from the truth. There is a huge cost 
     associated with being free. And we should never forget that.
       I will always remember a certain moment back in 1945. I was 
     being shipped home after the war ended, and we entered New 
     York harbor. In the distance I could see the Statue of 
     Liberty. I tell you, I was so happy and so thankful to be 
     coming home, and Lady Liberty was the symbol that I had 
     arrived. And that I was once again free.
       Yep, Stalag 17 taught me a lot about freedom.
       So I'd like to challenge you today to appreciate every 
     decision you are allowed to make--even the hard ones. And to 
     appreciate the veterans of today and tomorrow for protecting 
     the freedom we all enjoy. And to never forget that this 
     country we live in is truly ``the land of the free.'' Thank 
     you.

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