[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 16 (Monday, February 25, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S998]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                       AMERICAN GOLD STAR MOTHERS

  Mrs. CLINTON. Madam President, I rise today to pay tribute to 
Americans who embody the extraordinary service and sacrifice that make 
our country great: the American Gold Star Mothers.
  Formed shortly after World War I, this organization has brought 
together mothers who lost children during World War I, World War II, 
the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Beirut, Grenada, Panama, the Persian 
Gulf, Somalia, Bosnia, Saudi Arabia and in other times and places where 
soldiers' lives were lost in service of our country. The American Gold 
Star Mothers work to promote the noble ideals for which their children 
fought and died. The gold star they wear is a source of pride for their 
families and a symbol of the sacrifice they have endured so that our 
Nation might remain free.
  All of us who are parents know what it is like to live with the fear 
of losing a child, but only those who have suffered through such a loss 
can know just how very painful it is. Gold Star Mothers have endured 
such a burden and transformed their grief into an organization that 
serves not only the families of all who have lost loved ones in the 
military, but veterans everywhere, as well as our Nation as a whole. 
Their grace, dignity and patriotism represent the very best of America.
  I have had the honor of meeting with representatives of this 
wonderful organization to discuss their history and their work. Words 
alone cannot describe how much I admire their courage and resolve. We 
as a Nation have an obligation to them: not only to recognize their 
profound sacrifice and the bravery of their lost loved ones, but to 
give them support as they meet the challenges of life, challenges that 
I am sure would be easier to bear if their children were with them 
today.
  During this extraordinary time in our history when, once again, 
American forces are overseas in battle, it is fitting that we pay 
tribute to the soldiers who fought for the cause of freedom and 
democracy in earlier conflicts and to the families who have given up so 
much in the name of these ideals.
  We must memorialize the losses that we, as a Nation, have suffered 
and make clear that what counts in the long run is the quality and 
endurance of human spirit. Nowhere has it been given fuller flower than 
in our country. And in no organization can the power of the human 
spirit be seen more clearly than in the American Gold Star Mothers.
  Although we can never alleviate the pain of losing a son or daughter, 
we can recognize the sacrifices these families have made and ensure 
that they suffer no economic hardship. That is why I am proud to 
cosponsor S. 129, ``Gold Star Parents Annuity Act,'' which was 
introduced by my colleague, and an America hero, Senator Max Cleland of 
Georgia. This legislation would provide a monthly stipend to Gold Star 
Parents. It can make a big difference in the lives of families who are 
struggling to make ends meet. But, more important, it can itself be a 
powerful symbol of our Nation's respect for the service and sacrifice 
of those who fought and died so that we might be free. I urge my 
colleagues to join me in supporting this important bill, and in paying 
tribute to the American Gold Star Mothers.




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