[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 97 (Monday, July 12, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H5350]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   LET US HONOR ALL VIETNAM VETERANS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Filner) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak of an urgent need that 
is addressed by House Concurrent Resolution 134, a resolution which we 
call the ``In Memory Day'' resolution introduced earlier this month.
  When passed, this resolution will affirm that Congress supports the 
goals and ideas of what we have been calling ``In Memory Day,'' which 
is the third Monday of April.
  Though the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is a deeply moving reminder of 
many courageous Americans who gave their lives for their country, it 
includes only the names of those who died from combat wounds. Many 
other brave veterans have died as a result of their service in Vietnam, 
but their causes of death do not fit within the criteria established by 
the Department of Defense for inscribing their names on the Memorial. 
By observing ``In Memory Day,'' we will honor these patriotic Americans 
and remember their sacrifice.
  Veterans whose deaths were hastened by exposure to Agent Orange, for 
example, count among the casualties of Vietnam, but their names are not 
inscribed on the Memorial. Veterans who have taken their own lives as a 
result of the deep psychological wounds from their service are not 
included either, but their deaths are fundamentally tied to their 
experiences in Vietnam. These veterans and their families deserve 
recognition and support.
  This year, last April 19, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund held its 
first ``In Memory Day'' to commemorate these people who died but whose 
deaths do not merit inscription on the Wall. From this year forward, 
the ``In Memory Day'' event will be observed each year at the Wall, 
along with Memorial Day and Veterans Day, as one of the official 
ceremonies of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. Names of fallen 
comrades will be added to the ``In Memory Honor Roll'' each year, just 
as the names of those who died as a result of combat in Vietnam are 
added to the famous memorial at the Wall.
  Many returning heroes came back from Vietnam with their health 
shattered, both physically and mentally. They were wounded by their 
time in Vietnam, and they deserve our gratitude and recognition.
  I urge my colleagues to support House Concurrent Resolution 134.

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