[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 35 (Thursday, March 15, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E369-E370]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


             HONORING GULF WAR VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES

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                           HON. JACK KINGSTON

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 15, 2001

  Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, I am honored today to pay tribute to those 
brave men who

[[Page E370]]

fought in Desert Storm and the families who supported and prayed for 
them back at home. Families much like the Hart's from my district, who 
went without a father for almost two years. Steve Hart was not 
designated to fight in the Gulf Crisis, but rather volunteered to go 
overseas to protect American values and beliefs. Upon his return, he 
was welcomed back with a hero's reception as were all of our deserving 
soldiers. Perhaps the greatest reward was given to him recently, when 
his son wrote a tribute to him and his colleagues. I would like to 
submit that tribute, written by Steve's son David. I think it speaks 
for itself.

                        The Pride of an Army Son

       As a young adult blessed with the opportunity to have been 
     born and raised in the United States of America, I feel it is 
     essential for every American citizen to reflect on the fact 
     that the many freedoms, which we enjoy, were bought with a 
     price.
       The Declaration of independence issued by our forefathers 
     reflected centuries of struggle for freedom from England. 
     From the battlefields at Lexington, Concord, and Yorktown, 
     came our Constitution of the United States and a form of 
     government that provides Americans freedom, opportunity, and 
     justice under the law.
       However, neither the victory at Yorktown nor the 
     Constitution would have come about without the perseverance, 
     dedication, and ingenuity of the American soldier.
       Millions of Americans have put on this nation's uniform in 
     war and in peace since those brave early Americans who fought 
     for our freedom in the Revolutionary War. While our 
     independence was won more than 220 years ago, it has been 
     secured by those who have stood sentry over those ideals 
     since.
       It gives me great pride to acknowledge the fact that my 
     Father is one of the many members of the United States Army 
     who protect the way of life that sets our nation apart from 
     the rest. One incident in particular epitomizes the privilege 
     I celebrate to have been born into the military community.
       My mind is drawn to 1990 and 1991 when my family (my 
     Mother, brother and I) was separated for seven months due to 
     my Father's deployment to the Persian Gulf for Operations 
     Desert Shield and Storm. I recall not having my Father around 
     to take me Trick-or-Treating during Halloween. I remember how 
     solemn the normally joyous Thanksgiving and Christmas 
     holidays were in 1990 because our family unit was disrupted. 
     And my thoughts are brought back to how cavalier my friends 
     were about the pending war with Iraq, with seemingly little 
     regard for the death and destruction that accompanies war.
       I am proud of my Dad, for he volunteered to go the Persian 
     Gulf. His section was not scheduled to deploy. Dad's job was 
     supposed to stay at Fort Steward, Georgia and support the 
     soldiers from behind the front lines. I remember him telling 
     me that he ``had to go.'' He likened the call to duty like 
     being on the sports team and not getting playing time. He 
     said he could not live with himself knowing that his friends 
     and comrades were going to fight a war without him. Dad said, 
     ``there's plenty of time to accomplish things in civilian 
     life; right now, my country needs me.''
       I remember how much I worried about my Dad being wounded or 
     killed on the battlefield. I would always take refuge in the 
     text of his many letters and his words during the few phone 
     calls he was able to make. He told ``me'' to be brave, that 
     everything would be all right and he would be home soon.
       As the deployment wore on, my friends, as did much of 
     America, experienced a renewed sense of patriotism. During 
     the height of the Gulf War, many in my neighborhood would 
     show their support for the soldiers of Fort Steward and 
     Hunter Army Airfield, and the entire country, by displaying 
     flags. I saw flags on people's homes, on kids' lunch boxes, 
     on neckties, and on marquees.
       When our soldiers came home, there were marching bands, 
     colorful parades and an admiring public. The people of 
     Coastal Georgia and the nation lavished heartfelt thanks upon 
     its returning soldiers, both for their victory and their 
     sacrifice.
       Although most of the men and women from Fort Stewart did 
     return safe-and-sound, many returned severely wounded or with 
     emotional scars. Some did not return at all.
       As our nation and its democratic ideals and institutions 
     have evolved since colonial times, so, too, has our flag's 
     message of freedom, equality, justice, and hope evolved to 
     embrace all who choose the American way of life.
       Our members of the Armed Forces know the loneliness of 
     separation from family and friends, and the fear of dying in 
     a foreign land, alone, far from home, away from their 
     families. In serving America, they sweat, they bled, and they 
     agonized. They have served for their devotion to duty and 
     their love of this country and its ideals.
       This is the sacrifice paid by the military and their 
     families to maintain the way of life enjoyed by every United 
     States citizen. The next time you take for granted your 
     freedom of speech, your civil rights, your academic freedom, 
     religious freedom, and the freedom of the press, remember, 
     those freedoms were bought with a price.

     

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