[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 167 (Wednesday, December 5, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2207]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


EXPRESSING SENSE OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THAT VETERANS DAY CONTINUE 
                     TO BE OBSERVED ON NOVEMBER 11

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. BRIAN D. KERNS

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 4, 2001

  Mr. KERNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 
298, a resolution to preserve the spirit and true intention of 
Veterans' Day. Throughout the course of our Nation's history, 
courageous men and women have stepped forward in times of war and peace 
to serve in our Armed Forces. They have done so to protect the freedoms 
that we, as Americans, are blessed with each day.
  Their service has often taken them far away from their homes, their 
family, and their friends, and has placed them in harms way. Whenever 
and wherever called upon they answered that call to duty, and their 
blood has been shed in defense of our liberty.
  Now, as our Nation is leading the war on terrorism, the heroic acts 
of our American service men and women overseas and the 48 million who 
came before them to defend our country, deserve nothing less than a 
commitment by the Congress to preserve the sanctity and true mission of 
Veterans' Day.
  While we can never adequately repay our men and women in uniform for 
the sacrifices they have made to keep America free, we can honor and 
thank them for their service. With our way of life, our freedoms, under 
attack at home and abroad, now more than ever, it is imperative that we 
guarantee that our veterans are honored. I urge my colleagues to 
support this resolution and maintain November 11 as Veterans' Day--a 
special day of national observance that we, as a nation, set aside to 
remember our veterans and the sacrifices they made to uphold our 
freedoms.

                          ____________________