[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 23 (Wednesday, March 6, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H700-H704]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CONGRATULATING THE UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY AT WEST POINT ON ITS 
                        BICENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY

  Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
Senate joint resolution (S.J. Res. 32) congratulating the United States 
Military Academy at West Point on its bicentennial anniversary, and 
commending its outstanding contributions to the Nation.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              S.J. Res. 32

       Whereas establishing a military academy to teach the 
     technical arts of war was a desire of many of our founding 
     fathers, particularly George Washington;
       Whereas Congress passed legislation on March 16, 1802, to 
     establish such a military academy to be located at West 
     Point, New York, a site that Washington called the key to the 
     continent because of its strategic importance during the 
     Revolution;

[[Page H701]]

       Whereas President Thomas Jefferson signed the legislation 
     establishing the United States Military Academy at West 
     Point, an institution dedicated to promoting scientific 
     education to benefit the Nation and to attracting a diverse 
     array of young citizens to the Nation's military leadership;
       Whereas Sylvanus Thayer, who served as Superintendent of 
     the Academy from 1817 to 1833, established the foundation of 
     the Academy's strong academic program, strict adherence to 
     discipline, and emphasis on moral and ethical conduct;
       Whereas, under Douglas MacArthur's leadership as 
     Superintendent from 1919 to 1922, the Academy was modernized 
     to prepare its graduates for the challenges of the 20th 
     century;
       Whereas the Academy, the first school in America to teach 
     engineering, produced graduates who were responsible for the 
     construction of the Nation's first railroad lines and many of 
     its early harbor improvements, bridges, roads, and canals;
       Whereas Academy graduates introduced engineering education 
     to numerous colleges and universities, and carried out such 
     monumental engineering projects as the construction of the 
     Panama Canal project;
       Whereas Academy graduates have also distinguished 
     themselves in the leadership of such innovative scientific 
     research and development projects as the development of 
     atomic bombs in the Manhattan Project during World War II;
       Whereas Academy graduates have served with character and 
     distinction in all of America's wars and military actions 
     since the War of 1812;
       Whereas 74 Academy graduates have earned the Nation's 
     highest military honor, the Medal of Honor;
       Whereas 2 Academy graduates, Ulysses S. Grant and Dwight D. 
     Eisenhower, served both as distinguished general officers and 
     as the President of the United States, and many other 
     graduates have served in all levels of government;
       Whereas dozens of Academy graduates have been astronauts, 
     including the Academy graduate who is the first American to 
     walk in space and 2 Academy graduates who walked on the moon;
       Whereas hundreds of Academy graduates have utilized their 
     talents in the private sector, to provide managerial and 
     technical expertise that is responsible, in part, for 
     nurturing and sustaining a system of enterprise that is 
     admired around the world;
       Whereas the Academy has provided an opportunity for men and 
     women of all races, religions, and cultures to receive a 
     college education and to begin a life of service to the Army 
     and the Nation; and
       Whereas the motto of the Academy, ``Duty, Honor, Country'', 
     exemplifies the spirit of this Republic: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
     United States of America in Congress assembled, That Congress 
     congratulates the United States Military Academy on its 
     bicentennial anniversary, recognizes it as an outstanding 
     leadership development institution that upholds and promotes 
     the highest virtues of American society, and commends all 
     those who have led and taught at the Academy for inculcating 
     its 58,000 graduates with moral, ethical, and intellectual 
     values and skills that are the foundations for the dedicated 
     service so honorably given by those graduates to the Army, 
     the Nation, and friends of freedom and liberty around the 
     world for 200 years.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. McHugh) and the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Tauscher) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York (Mr. McHugh).


                             General Leave

  Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
on S.J. Res. 32.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, S.J. Res. 32 celebrates the bicentennial anniversary of 
one of our Nation's most valued institutions, the United States 
Military Academy at West Point.
  I should say, Mr. Speaker, this is a particularly proud moment for me 
personally. As an 8-year member of the Board of Visitors at that 
illustrious institution and as a 10-year member of the Committee on 
Armed Services, I have come to know firsthand the amazing contributions 
and the invaluable role that West Point has played, both in our 
Nation's history and in our Nation's present.
  The Military Academy has performed its primary objective of educating 
military officers with unparalleled excellence throughout its history. 
To understand the value of West Point, one only has to look back on the 
long line of great men that have led our forces in war who were the 
products of this tremendous institution. Perhaps the most important 
achievement of West Point is the ``long gray line,'' the many graduates 
beneath the great names of history who have formed the foundation of 
the officer corps that is the bulwark of the United States Army in 
peacetime, as well as war.
  Throughout its history, the Military Academy has molded the best and 
the brightest of our youth into leaders with skills, character and 
commitment to not just defend America, but to make it a better place 
throughout their lives. In my experience, the contributions and 
achievements of the graduates of the Military Academy extend well 
beyond their lives as military officers. Academy graduates have 
historically made and continue to make contributions to local 
government, business, and academia across the Nation.
  Through their leadership talents and commitment to service, they have 
been successful in making their bedrock values, duty, honor, country, 
part of every community they touch.
  The effectiveness of their influence is most evident in Washington, 
D.C., here at the seat of government. I would venture to say there is 
not a single government agency here in Washington that does not 
directly benefit from the presence of a West Point graduate.
  It has been my experience that West Point graduates are more often 
focused on the challenges of a job and society's need for that job to 
be done than they are on the personal financial rewards and 
recognitions that any employment slot may offer. They do not shy away 
from the difficulties and the sacrifices we are required to work with 
within government, but rather they embrace the challenges and seek the 
reward of knowing they have made a difference in that important 
mission.
  Mr. Speaker, our Nation has benefited in many ways from these 
remarkable citizens. While we treasure the graduates, we must also 
honor the institution that gave these wonderful Americans the 
opportunity to learn and grow.
  Mr. Speaker, I would particularly like to extend a word of thanks to 
the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Shimkus) for his leadership and for 
his hard work in helping to bring this resolution to the floor. We are 
all deeply in his debt.
  So, Mr. Speaker, S.J. Res. 32 correctly congratulates the United 
States Military Academy on its 200th anniversary as a leadership 
institution that upholds and promotes the highest virtues of American 
society. I would like to also add my personal thanks to the men and 
women, past and present, who have made it a bastion of learning in 
which students may witness and assimilate the individual qualities that 
we have come to hold dear and view as authentically American; and 
specifically I speak of the professors, the faculty, the staff, and, of 
course, the administrative staff, who have really led this institution 
and have helped form it and in the process helped to form so many great 
young American men and women to fill an invaluable role, both in our 
military and our society in general.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. TAUSCHER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of Senate Joint Resolution 32, which 
recognizes the bicentennial of the United States Military Academy, 
commonly referred to as West Point.
  The United States Military Academy has been nurturing and developing 
a spirit of duty, honor, country in our Nation's Army cadets for 200 
years since its founding in 1802 by President Thomas Jefferson. As a 
member of West Point's Board of Visitors, it is an American tradition 
of excellence I am honored to be proud of. During the Revolutionary 
War, General George Washington considered West Point to be the most 
important strategic position in America.
  Nestled on nearly 16,000 acres in West Point, New York, along the 
Hudson River, the United States Military Academy is dedicated to 
attracting diverse young men and women to our Nation's military 
leadership. For 2 centuries, West Point has been both home and training 
academy to thousands of cadets who have committed themselves to serve 
our Nation and the virtues of duty, honor, and country.

[[Page H702]]

                              {time}  1230

  Among the graduates of this distinguished institution are: Presidents 
Ulysses S. Grant and Dwight D. Eisenhower, ``Stonewall'' Jackson, 
Robert
E. Lee, John J. Pershing, Douglas
MacArthur, George S. Patton, Omar
Bradley, Edwin E. ``Buzz'' Baldwin,
Brent Scowcroft, and H. Norman Schwarzkopf.
  Other honorable graduates include: Dennis Hart Mahan, a distinguished 
educator and writer who taught the science of war; Henry O. Flipper, 
the first African American graduate in 1877; Henry H. ``Hap'' Arnold, a 
pioneer of Army aviation; astronauts Frank Borman, who commanded the 
first circumlunar flight; Edward White II, the first American to walk 
in space and who tragically perished in the Apollo spacecraft fire; and 
Michael Collins, who participated in the first manned lunar landing; 
Roscoe Robinson, Jr., the first African American four-star Army 
general; Andrea Lee Hollen, the first woman to graduate from the 
Academy and a Rhodes Scholar; and Kristin Baker, the first woman 
brigade commander of the U.S. Corps of Cadets.
  These and many other well-known and not so well-known graduates of 
West Point have made an impact on our Nation's history.
  The United States Military Academy's mission is ``to educate, train, 
and inspire the Corps of Cadets so that each graduate is a commissioned 
leader of character committed to the values of Duty, Honor, Country; 
professional growth throughout a career as an officer of the United 
States Army; and a lifetime of selfless service to the Nation.'' For 
200 years, the Academy has faithfully and dutifully carried out the 
``West Point Experience'' by challenging intellect, requiring rigorous 
physical stamina, and developing the military and moral and ethical 
character of cadets.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating the United States 
Military Academy on its bicentennial and support S.J. Resolution 32.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, let me first commend my fellow Board of 
Visitors member, the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Tauscher), for 
both her work on this resolution and for her very eloquent statement in 
support. I think she very effectively outlined the specific 
contributions of this great institution.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. 
Kelly); not just from New York but a very special part of New York who, 
beyond being also a member of the Board of Visitors, has the honor of 
representing in her congressional district this fine institution.
  Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I, too, have been a member of the Board of 
Visitors of West Point for 8 years.
  Mr. Speaker, the freedom of this Nation was bought through the ideas 
of democracy and independence of our Founding Fathers, but those ideas 
would never have come into a reality without a commitment of men to 
fight for those ideals.
  Throughout our country's history, we have been led through tumultuous 
times by the men and women of the military who are motivated by a deep 
patriotism and a willingness to put their lives on the line to defend 
our Nation and keep us safe. It is no secret that many of the great 
leaders of these brave men and women have been trained on the hallowed 
grounds of West Point.
  As mentioned before, George Patton, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Ulysses 
Grant, and Douglas MacArthur are just a few of the names on a long list 
of the leading American soldiers who obtained the tools to become great 
American leaders as cadets on the banks of the Hudson River at West 
Point. Our Nation owes a continuing debt of gratitude to strong men and 
women who are at The Point and who have graduated from The Point and 
are leading our armies even now. I am proud that this illustrious 
institution is in my district.
  The history of The Point, dating from the very first days of the 
revolutionary war to the present, is one of heroism and leadership. I 
wish a happy anniversary to the U.S. Military Academy and congratulate 
all of those who have had an association there on 200 years of 
dignified service to this Nation.
  I congratulate the men and women who teach at The Point and those who 
have taught there. Thank you for training generations of young people 
to understand just what the motto ``Duty, Honor, Country'' stands for.
  Congratulations to all of our West Point grads, past and present and 
future. Our Nation is grateful to you for your selfless service.
  Mrs. TAUSCHER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from 
New York (Mr. McNulty).
  Mr. McNULTY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me 
this time.
  I am delighted to join with my colleagues in congratulating the 
Military Academy of West Point on the occasion of its bicentennial 
celebration. The reason I like West Point so much is because West Point 
produces veterans. If we remember to keep our priorities straight, we 
will remember that, had it not been for the men and women who wear the 
uniform of the United States military through the years, we would not 
have the privilege of going around bragging, as I often do, about how 
we live in the freest and most open democracy on the face of the earth.
  Freedom is not free. We have paid a tremendous price for it, and I 
try not to let a day go by without remembering with deep gratitude all 
of those who, like my brother, Bill, made the supreme sacrifice and all 
of those who served and were willing to put their lives on the line as 
servicemen and women are doing right now, for all that we hold dear. 
That is why, Mr. Speaker, when I get up in the morning, the first two 
things I do are to thank God for my life and veterans for my way of 
life.
  So on this special day I salute and pay tribute to all of the 
graduates of the Military Academy at West Point through the years, 
including my own Albany County Executive, Mike Breslin, who went on to 
serve as a company commander in the Vietnam War, all the way to Colleen 
O'Malley, who will graduate this year. West Point is a great national 
treasure. May it endure for many generations to come.
  Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Shimkus), the gentleman I mentioned 
earlier, a graduate of West Point and someone who, to this day, returns 
on a regular basis and instructs in the classrooms and helps to mold 
those leaders that all of us have been speaking about and are in such 
deep admiration of. Also, of course as I mentioned, the gentleman is 
the primary driving force behind having this resolution before us 
today.
  (Mr. SHIMKUS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, many of our Founding Fathers, particularly 
George Washington, wanted to establish a military academy to teach the 
technical arts of war. On March 16, 1802, Congress passed legislation 
to establish such a military academy to be located at West Point, New 
York. Thomas Jefferson signed this bill into law.
  The Academy daily fulfills its mission: ``To educate, train and 
inspire the Corps of Cadets so that each graduate is a commissioned 
leader of character, committed to the values of Duty, Honor, Country; 
professional growth throughout a career as an officer in the United 
States Army; and a lifetime of selfless service to the Nation.''
  The Academy was the first school in America to teach engineering, 
produce graduates who were responsible for the construction of the 
Nation's first railroad lines and many of its early harbor 
improvements, bridges, roads, and canals.
  Graduates of the Academy have served with character and distinction 
in all of America's wars and military actions since the War of 1812.
  For 200 years, the military academy has educated and trained some of 
the best and brightest in the Nation.
  The ``West Point Experience'' includes a challenging academic program 
in the arts and sciences, military training, physical education, and 
moral and ethical development.
  From the day of its founding, West Point has remained committed to 
the task of producing commissioned leaders of character for America's 
Army.
  The Academy continues to provide men and women of all races and 
cultures to receive a college education

[[Page H703]]

and begin a life of service to the Army and to the Nation, and this 
resolution highlights some of the leaders that we know about from our 
history books.
  But I want to give my colleagues a snapshot of just one class, and 
that is my class, the graduating class of 1980 that entered in 1976, 
the first class at West Point with women. We admitted 1,366 men, 119 
women, for a total of 1,485 cadets. Of that, upon graduation in 1980, 
855 male graduates, 62 female graduates, a total of 917. Of that class, 
four were Olsmstead Scholars, one was a Rhodes Scholar, and one went on 
to be an astronaut.
  In September of 2001, of that graduating class of 1980, after our 20 
years of service had expired, we still have 188 males serving in the 
active Army of our country and 12 females serving in the active Army of 
our country; and we are very, very proud of all of those graduates. 
That is a snapshot of just a class from West Point.
  But I also want to expound on those characters and attributes of 
those who are not always remembered and those who are not named. Dennis 
Michie introduced football to the military Academy and trained the 
first Army football team. When war broke out with Spain in 1898, 
Lieutenant Michie proved he was every bit of a soldier as he was an 
athlete. Acting as a runner with messages for the far right of the U.S. 
line during the battle of San Juan Hill, he traversed the entire length 
of the front during the morning of July 1. Somewhere along the way back 
from the forward battalion, Dennis Michie was killed. He was only 28 
years old.
  Thomas Truxtun excelled in both soccer and lacrosse. When he was not 
on the playing fields, Truxtun was leading the Corps of Cadets. During 
World War II, near Tabio on June 6, 1945, Lieutenant Colonel Truxtun 
went forward with the infantry unit his battalion was supporting, he 
commanded a field artillery battalion, to ensure the fire his men 
provided was doing what the infantry needed. Far forward in an exposed 
position, he was shot and killed by a Japanese sniper. He was only 31 
years old.
  Thomas Shea was born in Virginia. After serving as an Infantryman, he 
got an appointment to the Academy. He then excelled in track. He then 
made a life-changing decision upon his graduation. He had the 
opportunity to train as a track runner for the upcoming Olympics or 
continue his military training and go to Korea. He went to Korea.
  On July 6, 1952 Lieutenant Shea's company was stationed on Pork Chop 
Hill and was attacked by a numerically superior Communist force. Shea 
personally led a counterattack against the enemy and held the enemy 
back. On July 8, the Communists came again and, despite additional 
wounds, Shea led the counterattack. He died in hand-to-hand combat with 
the enemy. Richard Shea was only 26 years old.
  Thomas Hayes was an athlete and a leader at West Point. Lieutenant 
Hayes called for covering fire, left his covered position and ran 
through concentrated fire to a wounded soldier and pulled him to 
safety. Lieutenant Hayes then began directing his platoon's fire 
against the well-entrenched enemy. Lieutenant Hayes died during this 
fight when a Viet Cong sniper opened fire and mortally wounded Hayes. 
Hayes' actions that day saved the lives of two of his soldiers. Thomas 
Hayes was only 25 years old when he was killed in action in 1968.
  More than 1,250 Academy graduates have been killed in action or died 
from battle wounds. At least another 500 were the victims of nonbattle 
deaths in military actions of our country. This is why we hold so dear 
our alma mater which says, in the last verse, ``And when our work is 
done, our course on earth is run, may it be said, 'well done, be thou 
at peace.' E'er may that line of gray increase from day to day. Live, 
serve, and die, we pray, West Point for thee.''
  We have a national treasure in the upper highlands of the Hudson 
Highlands in New York. It is fitting that we recognize its bicentennial 
and its commitment to our country: ``Duty, Honor, Country.''
  Mrs. TAUSCHER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Hinchey), another member of the Board of 
Visitors.
  Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from California for 
yielding me this time.
  Mr. Speaker, I am very proud to join with my colleagues in sponsoring 
this House Resolution to recognize the United States Military Academy 
on its bicentennial. This venerable institution was chartered by 
Congress 200 years ago on March 16, shortly after the birth of the 
Nation.
  Known most commonly by the name of the town where it is located, West 
Point, New York, the United States Military Academy was born out of the 
experience of our Founding Fathers during the Revolutionary War. Many 
of the key battles in the fight for independence were fought along the 
banks of the Hudson River. At the time, the Hudson was the main artery 
of transportation and commerce as well as security in the Nation.
  George Washington chose a site at the bend in the river on the bluffs 
overlooking the west bank about 50 miles north of New York City to 
establish an academy to train the military leaders of our country. 
Today, the view from West Point is one of the most breathtaking sites 
in America. Two hundred years ago, it was one of the most militarily 
strategic locations in America.
  I grew up near West Point, near its halls. It is an important part of 
the Hudson valley, and the contributions that it makes are mighty to 
all of our communities.

                              {time}  1245

  It is more than just West Point football games in the fall. It is 
also the academy support for local cultural institutions, schools, and 
athletic programs that make it such a fine neighbor.
  ``Duty, honor, country,'' the school's motto, is the foundation of 
West Point education. West Point graduates have served our country with 
distinction. They have led our troops into battle in every war, 
military conflict, and police action, from the war in 1812 through the 
current conflict in Afghanistan. Seventy-four have won a Congressional 
Medal of Honor. Countless others have received numerous decorations for 
bravery and valor on the battlefield.
  More than waging war, West Point graduates have also negotiated peace 
treaties and served in our Diplomatic Corps. School of Engineering West 
Point graduates built the infrastructure of our Nation. They 
constructed the first harbors, bridges, canals, roads, and railroads. 
They made manifest destiny a reality as America expanded westward.
  West Point graduates have led our country as Presidents, Governors, 
Senators, Members of the House of Representatives. My colleague, the 
gentleman from Illinois and the sponsor of this resolution, is a fine 
example.
  West Point graduates have walked on the Moon, headed up major 
corporations, written best-sellers, competed in the Olympics, and 
excelled in every walk of life. Every year it produces more winners of 
Rhodes, Truman, Fulbright, and Marshall International scholarships than 
nearly every other school in the country.
  I am proud to serve this institution as one of the newest members of 
the Board of Visitors. As West Point celebrates its bicentennial, I 
look forward to helping lead it into the future.
  Again, I wish to thank the gentleman from Illinois for sponsoring 
this legislation and the leadership for placing it on the calendar 
today. This is a fitting tribute for an institution that has served our 
Nation long and well. I know that everyone in this House will support 
this resolution.
  Mrs. TAUSCHER. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote for this 
resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I have a final word of praise for all those Members who 
are here today, and to the gentleman from Illinois for his special 
effort in urging our fellow Members to join us in commemorating this 
very worthy resolution on this 200th anniversary.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Shimkus). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from New York (Mr. McHugh) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the Senate joint resolution, S.J. Res. 32.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of

[[Page H704]]

those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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