[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 73 (Thursday, May 24, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E928-E929]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            MEMORIAL DAY IS A DAY TO REMEMBER THE SACRIFICE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DAN BURTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 24, 2001

  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, Memorial Day was established in 
1868 to pay tribute to individuals who have made the ultimate sacrifice 
to the United States and their families. The men and women of the armed 
services of today and yesterday took an oath to uphold and protect the 
constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic. Those who served 
in the Army, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps have been 
willing to lay their lives on the line to keep this greatest nation on 
the earth free. We must never forget the importance of this oath and 
this sacrifice.
  Last year, when Public Law No. 106-579 was signed into law, we 
reaffirmed the importance of remembering and renewing the legacy of 
Memorial Day. We as a nation need to reclaim memorial Day as the sacred 
and noble event the day was intended to be. We can do this by taking 
greater strides to domestic appreciation for those loyal people of the 
United States whose values, represented by their sacrifices, are 
critical to the future of the United States. As a Government, we have a 
responsibility to raise awareness of and respect for the national 
heritage, and to encourage citizens to dedicate themselves to the 
values and principles for which those heroes of the United States died.
  As part of this reaffirmation, Congress and the President called on 
the people of the United States to pause at 3:00 p.m. on Memorial Day 
to observe a National Moment of Remembrance. By doing so we honor the 
men and women of the United States who died in the pursuit of freedom 
and peace.
  Memorial weekend has become the signal in this country that summer 
has begun. In Indianapolis this weekend we have the great Indy 500 race 
and festivities. It is a great weekend for Hoosiers. I hope that each 
American as we go about our holiday weekend will at the very least 
remember to take that moment on Monday and pause at 3:00 p.m. for a 
moment of remembrance through prayer, quiet reflection, or meditation.
  We have been blessed this week to have a great media focus on the 
heroes of our armed services. Last Sunday night the James Keach Movie, 
``Submerged'' aired on network television. This movie portrayed the 
heroics of the submariners of our early Navy and told the true story of 
raising a submarine and saving many of its crew. This Friday the movie 
``Pearl Harbor'' will premier in theaters across the nation. I am 
pleased that these artists have used their talents and efforts to share 
with the world the stories that are such a vital component of our 
nation's history.
  I am also pleased that we are preparing a sixty-year remembrance 
event at Pearl Harbor. We are fortunate in the 107th Congress to have 
heroes among us. The following are members of the House and Senate who 
served in the armed services during World War II. From the House of 
Representatives: Cass Ballenger, John D. Dingell, Benjamin A. Gilman, 
Ralph M. Hall, Amo Houghton, Henry J. Hyde, Joe Moakley, Ralph Regula, 
Norman Sisisky, Joe Skeen, and Bob Stump.

[[Page E929]]

From the Senate: Daniel K. Akaka, Jesse Helms, Ernest F. Hollings, 
Daniel K. Inouye, Ted Stevens, Strom Thurmond, and John Warner.
  As we go about remembering those who died in service, I hope we will 
also remember those who are still with us. Each month over 38,000 World 
War II veterans die. Our veterans are our nation's heroes. Whether a 
Private or a General, combat veteran who served on the front lines, a 
nurse in a MASH unit, or the quartermaster who was stateside during 
war--our veterans deserve to be remembered and honored by our country 
and by each of us. We need to make sure every eligible veteran who goes 
to a Veterans Administration (VA) Hospital or clinic for medical care 
is treated with compassion and respect and gets good medical care. We 
also need to make sure that we do a better job with those whose 
conditions mean their care is palliative and not curative.
  During a Government Reform Committee hearing in October 1999, we 
learned that the VA had an initiative to improve their hospice 
programs. We heard from such experts as Dr. Ira Byock and Dr. Judith 
Salerno as well as Dannion Brinkley who founded Compassion in Action--a 
non-profit foundation that trains hospice volunteers to serve in VA 
hospitals. I am pleased that in four short years this organization has 
been able to train 4,000 hospice volunteers who last year provided 
27,000 hours of service to veterans.
  Americans who volunteer through Compassion in Action, the American 
Legion, the Paralyzed Veterans Association, and the many other 
volunteer service organizations at the VA are also our heroes. Many of 
these volunteers are veterans as well and continue to serve their 
country as brigades of volunteers without whom our VA hospitals could 
not function. I am pleased that our President is continuing the legacy 
of the Thousand Points of Light by rejuvenating the call to 
volunteerism and compassion through service.

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