[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 158 (Wednesday, November 10, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S14512-S14516]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING VETERANS DAY

  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, as daylight hours shorten and brightly 
colored leaves fall from the tree branches, we gradually descend into 
the winter season. The master hand of nature, after painting the hills 
glorious colors, leaves us with a chilly palette of greyer skies, 
leafless trees, and a long wait before the spring blossoms emerge from 
their underground bulbs. Although we may feel the bounce in our step 
that a crystal clear, crisp-aired fall day can bring, with the sun 
shining brightly as it makes its low arc across the sky, we are 
reminded during this time of the year of the cycles of the natural 
world. We are reminded that all too soon, we will be in the quarter of 
the year naturally suited for hibernation--a season, despite festive 
gatherings, associated with the death needed for renewal. During this 
season we celebrate Veterans Day to honor veterans who, with their 
death and sacrifice, have renewed and sustained the freedom and promise 
of our great republic.
  Each year at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh 
month we celebrate the end of the fighting in Europe in 1918 that ended 
the Great War. When I was a boy, we called this day Armistice Day in 
honor of the Armistice between the Allies and the Central Powers that 
ended the horrible trench warfare that had torn Europe apart. In 1926, 
Congress proclaimed that Armistice Day would be celebrated yearly with 
an annual observance of ``thanksgiving and prayer and exercises 
designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding 
between nations.''
  After World War II, on June 1, 1954, Congress approved the Veterans 
Day Act that changed the name of Armistice Day to Veterans Day. I am 
the only Member of Congress who was serving in Congress at that time 
who is still serving today. Officially, on Veterans Day, we celebrate 
and recognize the sacrifices of our nation's soldiers, sailors, and 
airmen to protect our freedoms during all of the wars and conflicts 
involving the United States. That same year, President Eisenhower 
declared that on Veterans Day, Americans should ``solemnly remember the 
sacrifices of all those who fought so valiantly, on the seas, in the 
air, and on foreign shores, to preserve our heritage of freedom, and 
let us reconsecrate ourselves to the task of promoting an enduring 
peace so their efforts shall not have been in vain.''
  From the beginning of our nation, America's sons and daughters have 
been ready to answer a call to duty. In particular, West Virginians 
have a proud enviable record of service to this country in the perilous 
times of war and conflict. Of the twenty-five million living veterans, 
one-hundred-ninety-thousand reside in the great State of West Virginia. 
More than ten-percent of the people of West Virginia are veterans who 
have served our nation proudly--that is more than ten of every one-
hundred West Virginians. This tradition of dedication to serving is 
something I am proud of as a West Virginian. Through the turmoil and 
change of the twentieth century, one thing has remained constant--the 
dedication and commitment of our veterans to the survival and strength 
of this nation.
  Largely through the might of our Armed Forces, the United States 
enjoys an unprecedented position of international leadership. Yet, the 
promise of lifelong health care that this country made to our men and 
women in uniform has been threatened, not by the aggression of a 
foreign power, but by inadequate funding. Caring for America's veterans 
is an ongoing cost of war. As America's veterans grow older, they 
require increased dependence on health care services. But, the 
Department of Veterans Affairs cannot be expected to provide the 
necessary care which veterans will need in Fiscal Year 2000, at the 
Fiscal Year 1999 level for veterans health care services. Veterans 
should not be expected to wait in longer lines, and travel farther for 
services. They must be provided quality service. If we fail in this 
obligation, how can we justify sending more and more young service 
members into harm's way? How can we expect our children and 
grandchildren to volunteer for military service in the future, if we 
are not prepared to keep promises to veterans today?
  This year the budget came dangerously close to failing to provide for 
health care that veterans need and deserve. The Department of Veterans 
Affairs warned many veterans that they might not be eligible for 
veterans medical care services in Fiscal Year 2000. The strong need for 
quality medical care for veterans, and a sense of duty to these men and 
women who valiantly served, caused me to work very hard to meet the 
funding level for veterans' medical care recommended by the Senate 
Committee on Veterans Affairs--some $1.7 billion above the 
Administration's budget request. I would like to thank my colleagues 
who supported my efforts to raise the funding level for veterans 
medical care to $19 billion for Fiscal Year 2000. This level of funding 
will enable the VA to continue to provide quality health care to 
veterans, and will prevent the kinds of cuts in services that many 
veterans feared would place their eligibility for care in question.
  As a nation, we are good about honoring our war dead, with memorial 
days such as Veterans Day, and with memorials of stone that dot our 
capital and other towns and cities across the country. We need to be as 
good to our living veterans. Today, many of our veterans are still 
affected by the time they spent in service. We can best honor them by 
continuing to provide a high quality of medical care. We can also honor 
our veterans by continuing to search for answers to questions of 
service-related injury, and by providing for those who have experienced 
such injuries. We must also work to prevent such injuries from 
recurring. For instance, we must remain committed to pin-pointing the 
cause of the illness of Gulf War Syndrome. Recent reports issued by the 
Department of Defense indicate that certain substances our military men 
and women were directed to take during their service in the Gulf War 
cannot be ruled out as causes for this syndrome. We must continue to 
focus our attention on narrowing in on the cause of the symptoms 
experienced by more than one-hundred thousand Gulf War Veterans.
  So, this year on Veterans Day, let us reflect on the men and women 
who have valiantly served our Nation, both living and dead. Upon 
reflection, we should realize the need to recommit ourselves to 
honoring veterans, not only with unfurled flags and patriotic up-tempo 
marches but also by serving them as they have served our nation. As the 
leaves fall from the trees, and our veterans age and pass on, we must 
remember that what has always kept the tree of liberty safe and strong 
through the frost and chill of many brutal winters is the commitment of 
our veterans to nourish the roots of freedom.
  Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I rise today to salute the selfless men 
and women who have sacrificed so much in order to secure and protect 
the freedoms that we, as Americans, enjoy today. Volunteering one's 
body and mind without thought of consequence in order to safeguard the 
ideologies our country holds dear, is the utmost act of patriotism. 
Today we recognize the importance of the hardships endured by our 
Nation's veterans to preserve peace and freedom.
  As a Senator from New Mexico, I take great pride in the fact that New 
Mexico has among the top ten highest per capita military retiree 
populations in the Nation and honor the prominent contributions they 
have made towards the preservation of our great Nation.

[[Page S14513]]

  During World War II, members of the 200th and 515th Coast Artillery, 
better known as the New Mexico Brigade, repelled Japanese attacks for 4 
months before being overwhelmed by disease and starvation. Following 
the ensuing capture, the survivors of the battle were subjected to an 
85-mile ``Death March.'' These men were then held for more than 40 
months in Japanese prisoner of war camps. Of the 1,800 men in the New 
Mexico Brigade, less than 900 returned home and a third of those who 
did died within a year of returning to the U.S. The bravery exhibited 
by the New Mexico Brigade is characteristic of the men and women that 
comprise our Armed Forces.
  As a nation, we have an obligation to provide for those who have 
risked everything to the benefit of all. I am pleased that this session 
of Congress has produced legislation which will increase funding for 
veterans health care by $1.7 billion to a total of $19.6 billion for 
fiscal year 2000. However, we need to remain vigilant in our commitment 
to provide for those who are charged with the considerable task of 
defending this country from potential adversaries.
  Today I would like to pay tribute to our veterans and I am sure that 
my colleagues will join me in honoring these valorous men and women for 
their dedicated service to our great Nation.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, one day a year, on Veteran's Day, America 
pauses to recognize the sacrifices and the contributions of our 
veterans. We express our gratitude to all those who have served our 
nation so well. For all of the veterans being honored today, I salute 
you for your service and your dedication to our country.
  All veterans deserve our gratitude for their service. But it is 
especially fitting that we take special notice of the nation's World 
War II and Korean War veterans.
  America is losing 1,000 of its World War II and Korean War veterans 
every day. As they pass, so does our opportunity to pay tribute to them 
directly.
  Tom Brokaw has called the World War II generation the ``Greatest 
Generation.'' He captured the essence of this generation in his recent 
book by that name. As he stated:

       The World War II generation came of age during the Great 
     Depression and the Second World War and went on to build 
     modern America--men and women whose everyday lives of duty, 
     honor, achievement, and courage gave us the world we have 
     today.

  The World War II generation and the size of its veteran population 
are unique in American history. Sixteen million Americans served in 
World War II from 1941 to 1945.
  That war united all Americans--men and women; blacks and whites; rich 
and poor; old and young. My oldest brother Joe gave his life, and Jack 
served with great courage on PT-109 in the Pacific.
  As much as we owe the World War II generation, we are still waiting 
for the construction of a national memorial in Washington to their 
service. At last, a site on the Mall has been selected and a design has 
been chosen for the National World War II Memorial. We owe it to these 
extraordinary veterans to complete it without delay, so that as many of 
our World War II veterans as possible can see the nation's enduring 
monument to their service.
  We also honor these veterans by ensuring they receive the hard-earned 
benefits they so eminently deserve. I remain concerned about the 
healthcare budget of the Veterans' Administration. Health costs 
continue to rise and the budget has not kept pace. We have an ongoing 
responsibility to provide every veteran with adequate heath care. This 
year's VA budget includes a 1.7 billion dollar increase, and we must 
continue to do all we can so that veterans receive their fair share in 
each year's budget.
  In addition, as the number of older veterans continues to grow, the 
Veterans Administration must find a way to provide long-term care. The 
VA published an advisory report on this issue last year, but their 
recommendations were far from adequate. We need to pursue this issue 
next year, and develop more specific initiatives.
  Another challenge we face is to deal with the increasing concern that 
today's generation is estranged from the military. Only 6 percent of 
people under the age of 65 have ever served in the armed forces. 
Compare that with the fact that half of men over 50 have had at least 
two years of military service. In the years ahead, when we no longer 
have the Greatest Generation--The World War II Generation--as our 
model, we will have to do much more to guarantee that our society keeps 
our armed forces strong and able to meet any threat to our country.

  David Broder, the senior Washington Post journalist and a veteran 
himself, recently expressed his concern about the growing civilian-
military gap. He stated:

       The fact that no one younger than their mid-forties has 
     even faced the possibility of being called-up for military 
     service is one of the most significant generational divides 
     in this country.

  Clearly, this is cause for concern. The nation must work harder to 
preserve and strengthen the duties of citizenship that our veterans 
symbolize for all of us.
  The military has traditionally been an effective way for America's 
youth to serve the nation. It is troubling that today almost two thirds 
of the nation's youth say they would not join the armed forces. Twenty 
years ago, only 40 percent said that. Since the Persian Gulf War, the 
interest among 16 to 21 year olds in enlisting has dropped from 34 
percent to 26 percent. Last year the Army asked young adults:

       If you want to do something beneficial for your country, 
     are you more likely to do it in the military or in a civilian 
     job?

  Two to one who responded said:

       In a civilian job.

  Prosperity and complacency may explain such answers, but they do not 
justify them. Because of our nation's veterans, America is the greatest 
in the world, free from any major challenge from any other nation. The 
skillful work and dedication of our veterans have enabled our children 
and grandchildren to enjoy unparalleled national security and economic 
prosperity.
  It is imperative in our democracy that citizens remain proud of the 
military and continue to respect and appreciate the sacrifices of those 
who serve.
  As President Kennedy said in his Inaugural Address:

       Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, 
     that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any 
     hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the 
     survival and the success of liberty.

  Million of Americans were inspired by these words, and our obligation 
is to continue that inspiration into the next century, so that a new 
generation will continue to ask not what their country can do for them, 
but what they can do for their country.
  The reduction in the population of veterans is being felt in Congress 
as well. The proportion of members of the House and Senate who have 
served in the military has dropped from more than 75 percent in 1971 to 
less than 34 percent today.
  Without the World War II and Korean generations, we will have to pay 
special attention to ensure that our society does not forget about our 
Vietnam, Gulf and Cold War veterans, or view their contributions with 
any less significance.
  The veterans of these more recent wars did not come home to the 
fanfare that accompanied the Allied victory in World War II. But their 
sacrifices and contributions to our nation's defense and to the 
protection of our democracy are immeasurable. As a nation, it is 
imperative that we continue to recognize the service of these veterans 
and pay tribute to their sacrifices.
  To help ensure that our nation remembers all of its veterans, I 
supported a Resolution this year that expresses the Sense of the 
Congress that the third Monday in April be designated as ``In Memory 
Day.'' That Day will recognize the Vietnam Veterans who have died as a 
result of illnesses and conditions associated with service in the 
Vietnam War.
  We must honor the missing too. Today, over 80,000 American servicemen 
remain unaccounted for from all our nation's wars, including 
approximately 10,000 from the Vietnam and Korean Wars.
  We must never forget our missing veterans. And we must never give up 
the effort to bring them home.
  On behalf of the nation's disabled veterans, I strongly support the 
Disabled Veterans LIFE Memorial Foundation to establish a national 
memorial to honor all disabled veterans. Recently, Miss America 1999, 
Heather

[[Page S14514]]

French of Kentucky, testified before the Senate on behalf of this 
memorial. During her Miss America pageant, she chose veterans as her 
cause, and she is emphasizing veterans issues throughout her reign. It 
is commitments and gestures of goodwill like hers that will keep 
America proud of its armed forces and the sacrifices of its veterans.
  The cornerstone of our military preeminence rests on many factors, 
but the most critical is its people. Without men and women willing to 
volunteer for military duty, we will not be able to respond to crises 
around the globe that threaten our vital interests. We need cutting-
edge weapon systems. But we also need dedicated service members to 
operate these systems.
  As we do more to take care of the veterans of today, we must never 
lose sight of our obligation to take care of the veterans of tomorrow. 
This year Congress passed the broadest and most sweeping improvements 
in military pay and benefits in over twenty years. The new law calls 
for a well-deserved 4.8% pay raise for military personnel--the single 
largest pay raise for servicemen and women since 1982. It also expands 
authority to offer additional pay and other incentives to critical 
military specialties, and it improves retirement benefits for those who 
are serving now.
  The military now faces one of the most difficult recruiting and 
retention challenges in many years. A major reason for the current 
problem is the strong U.S. economy. But the demands of far-flung 
military operations in recent years have also taken their toll on our 
troops. Today's military is a smaller force, and yet it is also a more 
active force, and we have been slow to recognize the problems that are 
building.
  In the past year alone, our servicemen and women conducted combat 
operations in Kosovo and Iraq. They are serving as peacekeepers in 
Bosnia, and as humanitarian support personnel in Central America. All 
of these demands are in addition to the day-to-day operations and 
exercises at home and overseas in which the military participates 
throughout the year.
  Massachusetts is a major part of all these operations. This past 
year, Guard and Reserve units from Massachusetts were deployed in 
support of Operation Northern Watch in Iraq, Hurricane Mitch relief in 
Central America, and in Kosovo.
  I especially commend all those who served during Operation Allied 
Force in Kosovo. This was the first war that America fought and won 
without a single casualty. Yet its victors came home to no parade 
marking V-K day, and no celebration of heroes. Yet their bravery and 
skill saved thousands of innocent lives, and they deserve our highest 
praise.
  The success of their operations was an impressive tribute to the 
capability and dedication of our service men and women. Veterans, in 
particular, should be proud, because it is their legacy and example 
that have helped create the world's finest armed forces.
  I am very disappointed that a provision to improve and expand GI Bill 
benefits was not included in this year's Defense bill. The GI Bill has 
been a very successful and important program for the military and the 
nation. Over 2.3 million World War II veterans took advantage of the GI 
Bill upon returning from the war. It has been called the greatest 
investment in higher education that any society has ever made, and a 
brilliant and enduring commitment to the future.
  In order for the GI Bill to continue its valuable work, it must 
evolve as our military forces evolve. Access to higher education is an 
increasingly important benefit for servicemen and women in today's all-
volunteer, professional military.
  Improvements are needed in the GI Bill to enhance the program's value 
and benefit to our troops, and to improve the bill's effectiveness as a 
recruiting tool--and these improvements need to be enacted into law as 
soon as possible.
  Today's armed forces contain well-educated professionals who have 
chosen to serve their country in the military. We must treat them as 
the skilled professionals they are--or we will lose them.
  Finally, when we think about our veterans, it is easy to recall the 
Eisenhowers, the Pattons, the MacArthurs, and the Powells. But we must 
never forget the countless silent heroes--the fathers, brothers, 
sisters, sons, and daughters who served when their country called.
  Stephen Ambrose, in his book ``Citizen Soldier,'' talks about the 
``can-do'' attitude of these quiet heroes that sets the American 
military apart. He describes the Normandy landing, where the American 
Sherman tanks were outgunned, and tells how skilled the Americans were 
in salvaging damaged tanks, patching them up, and sending them back 
into action.
  Ambrose writes:

       Indeed no army in the world had such a capability. Within 
     two days of being put out of action by German shells, about 
     half the damaged Shermans had been put back on the line. Kids 
     who had been working at gas stations and body shops two years 
     earlier had brought their mechanical skills to Normandy. 
     Nearly all the work was done as if the crews were back in the 
     States, rebuilding damaged cars and trucks.

  These were not professional soldiers, but average Americans. They 
left their families and friends behind to fight because their nation 
called. It is the dedication and ingenuity of these silent heroes that 
has made America great, and that made their Greatest Generation.
  All of us in the Kennedy family have enormous respect for our 
veterans and their service to the nation. Today, on the eve of 
Veteran's Day, I recall once again the words of President Kennedy. He 
visited the U.S. Naval Academy in August 1963, and spoke at a ceremony 
honoring the new class of midshipmen. This is what he said about his 
service in the Navy:

       I can imagine a no more rewarding career. And any man who 
     may be asked what he did to make his life worth while, I 
     think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction: 
     ``I served in the United States Navy.''

  My brother was a Navy man, but I'm sure that veterans of all the 
other services feel the same way. I know I am both grateful and proud 
of my fellow veterans, and I honor, respect, and thank them for their 
service.
  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, on November 11, 1918, an armistice was 
signed to end the ``War to end all wars.'' The country rejoiced. Then, 
as the jubilation subsided, the reality of what had occurred slowly 
entered the consciousness of the nation and shouts of joy turned to 
tears of grief and thanksgiving. For many who had gone to fight would 
never return to their homes. And those who did come home would forever 
be scarred by the sights, sounds, and atrocities of war.
  How could we, as a nation, show our gratitude to those who had given 
so much? The answer, insufficient though it was, was to set aside a day 
to honor all those who had served--heroes and patriots--and to give 
thanks for their sacrifices for freedom.
  Tomorrow is the day we have set aside. Tomorrow is the day we should 
take special care to remember our veterans.
  Throughout our nation's history there have been men and women willing 
to wear the uniform of the United States of America --willing to give 
their lives for freedom. Some people have asked ``why?'' The answer is, 
in the words of President Reagan, spoken at the 40th anniversary of D-
Day: ``It is because you all knew that some things are worth dying for. 
One's country is worth dying for, and democracy is worth dying for, 
because it's the most deeply honorable form of government ever devised 
by man. All of you loved liberty. All of you were willing to fight 
tyranny, and you knew the people of your countries were behind you.''
  Our nation depends on our armed forces. We depend on highly motivated 
and highly skilled men and women who are willing to go into harm's way 
at any time to defend American interests. And, when our troops leave 
the service, we should not forget them.
  Although the nation may only officially recognize the sacrifices of 
veterans every November on Veterans Day or every May on Memorial Day, I 
know, personally, that in the hearts of the individual Americans, our 
veterans are remembered everyday. They are the husbands and wives, 
fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters of us 
all. Almost one-third of the nation's population--approximately 70 
million persons--are veterans, dependents of veterans, or survivors of 
deceased veterans. I and my family honor and remember my brother Jess 
who died in World War II and

[[Page S14515]]

my brother-in-law Neil Brown, who died in Vietnam.
  In the decades before the all-volunteer army and sophisticated high-
tech weaponry, our military was made up of ordinary people. School 
teachers, ministers, machinists, truck drivers, bankers, and nurses, 
enlisted not just in the military, but in a noble enterprise. The story 
of America is the story of ordinary people doing extraordinary things 
and demonstrating uncommon endurance and valor.
  Today, our armed forces are comprised of dedicated soldiers and 
sailors who have chosen to make the military a career or to contribute 
their skills for a time in an all-volunteer, professional fighting 
force. But, the fact that our nation's Army and Navy have become more 
reliant on technology does not negate the risks of warfare. Nor does it 
compensate for family separations, holidays spent thousands of miles 
from home, or meals eaten out of carton.
  For Veterans' Day in 1954, President Eisenhower called upon us to 
``solemnly remember the sacrifices of all those who fought so 
valiantly, on the seas, in the air, and on foreign shores, to preserve 
our heritage of freedom, and let us reconsecrate ourselves to the task 
of promoting an enduring peace so that their efforts shall not have 
been in vain.''
  On this Veterans Day, I echo the words of President Eisenhower. I 
salute all our veterans. I know that as long as there are Americans 
willing to stand up and fight for our values, we will remain a free and 
just nation.
  A while ago, I was moved to write a song about those who have 
sacrificed so much for our country. It is entitled, ``Morning Breaks at 
Arlington.'' It is an expression of the emotion and pride I feel 
whenever I think about the courage and dedication of our service men 
and women. Let me conclude with the lyrics:

     Morning breaks on Arlington,
     Warmed by rays of golden sun,
     And all who pause in homage there
     Feel a soft hush in the air.
     Those who love their liberty
     Bow the head and bend the knee,
     And from their hearts they breathe a silent prayer.
     ``Thank God for those who rest in honor there.''

  Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, I salute the veterans of this nation. 
On this Veterans Day, I want to pay tribute to the brave American 
soldiers who fought long and hard battles so that we may all have our 
freedom today. Veterans Day is about honoring and remembering these men 
and women who served our Nation, and it is for their families.
  I am very fortunate to represent a state where military service is 
held in such high esteem. And well it should be. I can't tell you how 
proud I am of all West Virginia veterans. Whether they served in 
wartime or peace, all made great sacrifices. Indeed, West Virginia has 
one of the highest percentages of veterans of any state.
  As I have often said, it was knowing and understanding West 
Virginians' deep patriotism and loyalty to their state and their 
country that first led me to seek a seat on the Senate Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs, where I am now the Ranking Member. I am proud to 
serve veterans there.
  The very fabric of our nation is wound through our veterans. Iwo Jima 
and Hamburger Hill, defeating Nazism and turning back Communism, 
punishing the brutality of Hitler, Saddam Hussein, and Milosevic. Our 
nation is truly a beacon to the world for freedom and for opportunity 
because our men and women in uniform held that beacon aloft. And many 
of those men and women in uniforms were West Virginians.
  It is not enough to take a day to commemorate these veterans, 
however. We owe them more than that. It is our responsibility to refuse 
to turn our backs on veterans who need health care, education benefits, 
and compensation for injuries incurred in service. It would be truly 
disgraceful for these veterans, who have served our country so well and 
so valiantly, to feel that they have been forgotten except for this one 
day per year. That is why I take my work with and for veterans so very 
seriously.
  I have fought very hard this year for veterans not only in West 
Virginia, but across the Nation. A critical need for veterans is long-
term care. Our veteran population is aging rapidly and it is our 
responsibility to care for them. We owe them good long-term care now. I 
am dedicated to this need, and have been working hard to achieve this 
provision for all veterans.
  And there are other battles to be fought as well. Although veterans 
who enroll with VA for their health care receive a very generous 
standard benefits package, there is no provision for comprehensive 
emergency care. This is a serious gap in coverage for veterans, which 
is unacceptable. Large and unexpected emergency medical care bills can 
present a significant financial burden to veterans.
  Abraham Lincoln spoke at Gettysburg of dedication to ``unfinished 
work . . . thus far so nobly advanced.'' Indeed, it is true that we 
have work to complete. In order to truly commemorate our veterans, I 
hope my Senate colleagues will join me in my continuing battles for 
veterans.
  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, great words of tribute and reverent 
appreciation are put on paper every year in anticipation of the arrival 
of November 11th. With a solemn heart I struggle to meet the challenge 
of delivering those words in a way that is both humble and befitting of 
America's heros. I offer these words in honor and in memory of every 
American who has answered the call to arms; for every American who has 
freely stepped forward under our Star Spangled Banner; and for every 
American who died in the name of freedom. These men and women are among 
America's greatest heros.
  Our great nation has flourished and enjoys unprecedented prosperity 
to this day because of our veterans' willingness to give themselves in 
service to the nation. For many this willingness meant sacrificing 
their lives so others might live free.
  There are those among us who question whether or not our younger 
generations will prove, when the nation beckons, to be just as 
committed to the preservation of life, liberty, and the pursuit of 
happiness as those we honor every November 11 proved to be.
  I wonder how many Americans had those same doubts before the outbreak 
of WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, or Desert Storm? I wonder how many who 
did go had dreamed that they would ever be called into the horror that 
is found on the battlefield?
  Surely there were doubters. Surely there was apprehension and fear. 
But, they answered freedom's call. Our national story and the story of 
the American people is one of amazing courage in difficult times, and a 
proud tradition of triumph in the face of our enemies here and abroad. 
America has always been ready to act. The footprints left and the blood 
spilled by our soldiers, airmen, marines, sailors, and coast guardsmen 
around the world remain as a testament to the indomitable American 
spirit, our collective faith in the power of freedom, and to the 
promise of a great future.
  Over and over again, history has proven those who doubted America's 
resolve to be dead wrong. I am confident that our nation's future 
remains bright if we continue to exhibit the same steadfastness as our 
forefather's--never forsaking the gift of freedom that so many have 
given us.
  Inspiration can be found in many ways. Just the other day I was 
looking over Medal of Honor citations of some of Alabama's greatest 
heros. Taken together they represent a relatively small group of 
Alabamians but provide one of the greatest inspirations of hope for 
America I can find.
  Reading those citations made me think about how many people might 
have doubted their commitment back then? How many people came in 
contact with those heros never realizing they would one day prove 
themselves worthy to wear the Medal of Honor? I choose to be excited by 
those thoughts because America might well be called upon again to 
defend the world against tyranny and evil, and I have no doubt that our 
men and women in uniform would again stand with the same steadfast 
resolve exhibited by those we honor today. I take great solace in 
knowing that the patriotism and heroism of Americans has been a 
constant for hundreds of years and will continue to be in the future.
  America's veterans have made ours a great country. Hardly a person in 
America is not associated in some way

[[Page S14516]]

with a veteran. I hope you will thank them today for having answered 
the call to serve, and for setting the footprints for our future. They 
have indeed shown us the way into the 21st century.
  Mr. L. CHAFEE. Mr. President, one of my constituents, Mrs. Virginia 
Doris of Warwick, Rhode Island, recently sent my late father a poem she 
had written as a tribute to the veterans of World War II. I understand 
that he agreed to insert her poem in the Congressional Record in time 
for Veterans Day. I was honored when Mrs. Doris asked me to carry out 
that task in his place.
  Before I do so, I would like to take a brief moment to alert my 
colleagues to Mrs. Doris's own contribution to the war effort.
  During World War II, 23,000 Oerlikon-Gazda 20mm anti-aircraft guns 
were manufactured in my home state of Rhode Island. Originally produced 
in Switzerland, these guns were critical to the Allied campaign--nearly 
every ship in the fleet carried them by the end of the war.
  And Virginia Doris was right in the thick of this arms production 
effort, working long hours in the drafting room of the Oerlikon-Gazda 
command center, located in downtown Providence. In a 1990 interview 
with the Providence-Journal, Mrs. Doris described her years at the 
center ``as this marvelous period in my life.'' Equipped with what she 
refers to as her ``turbo persona,'' Mrs. Doris was a valued and trusted 
member of the Oerlikon-Gazda team.
  I ask unanimous consent, Mrs. Doris's poem, ``Ode to Comrades-In-
Arms: World War II,'' be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                        ODE TO COMRADES-IN-ARMS


                              world war ii

     O, Heavenly Father, gaze upon the tombs
     Of Patriots, foster their eternal plumes
     Nourished in they omnipoint song of hallow,
     Shed gentle tears to moist their marrow.

     Enfolded in thine unchanging flame
     Behold the farflung earthly frame,
     Its pulsing marbles sculptured strong,
     With ebbing currents and silvery thong,
     Each graven with the threaded embrace
     Is beaming out of seven-hued grace!

     The mystic temple wakes the slumbering forms,
     Takes the sacred dust they mercy warms,
     And sounds the bugle near and clear white stone,
     Close by these mounds which hold thy own.

     We implore, O' Savior, here let sleeping lie,
     `Till Heaven's luminous shadows prepare to die,
     And join the manhood's folded-flock at night,
     Psalms for bravery shall not pass in flight,
     As raging battles, and girded loins, last time
     To bond, lips to stir, a soldier's final clime!

     O, Heavenly Father, mark their burden of decay,
     The lives so young, war's lingering ebon fray,
     Delivers them a shrouded throne, and solemn biers,
     Can we not dream that those we loved are here?

     Beckon them all in memory, as the vine
     Whose tangled stems have long untwined
     The crystal pillars, and clasp around
     The sunken urns, the forlorn sounds;
     With mournful message to our brothers, resign,
     Tried and true, and close the broken line.

                          ____________________