[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 83 (Thursday, June 14, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1120]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         STATEMENT FOR FLAG DAY

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                       HON. CONSTANCE A. MORELLA

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 14, 2001

  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to our most 
cherished symbol of freedom, the American flag, and to recognize its 
importance to our national identity.
  Until the 13 colonies rebelled against Great Britain in 1776, each 
enjoyed a separate existence from the others with few ties among them. 
Their common fight against British rule, however, brought them more 
than independence. It brought the realization of a national identity. 
The adoption of our national flag, on June 14, 1777, served as a symbol 
of this blossoming union.
  John Paul Jones, the revolutionary war hero, the first to sail to sea 
under this new flag, stated that: ``The Flag and I are twins. . . . So 
long as we can float, we shall float together. If we must sink, we 
shall go down as one.'' Many veterans share his passion. Today we offer 
our profound gratitude to those who have fought and died to protect the 
freedoms that our flag represents.
  Today is a time to reflect upon the flag and what it means to 
America. It is a time to recognize that we live in a great nation that, 
with work, can become greater still. It is a time to contemplate 
America's place in the world and to know that our flag stands as a 
beacon of liberty and justice. We know that these freedoms have not 
come easily and we are grateful to those who have fought for these 
ideals: in battle, in the courts, in Congress, and in our everyday 
lives, we must work to uphold the ideals for which the Stars and 
Stripes truly stand.

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