[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 66 (Tuesday, May 21, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4621-S4622]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


  IN RECOGNITION OF THE VALOR, DEDICATION, AND PATRIOTISM OF THE KERR 
                            FAMILY VETERANS

 Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, this weekend communities will gather 
to pay tribute to the men and women who lost their lives while in 
service to our Nation. Throughout America, parades will be held on 
Memorial Day which will honor the soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines 
who have served to protect our Nation and preserve our freedoms. The 
City of Royal Oak, in my home State of Michigan will be hosting its 
annual Memorial Day parade on Monday, May 27, 2002, and this year four 
brothers from the Kerr family, who are all Vietnam veterans will serve 
as the Grand Marshals of this parade. These four brothers all 
voluntarily joined the U.S. military, and went to Vietnam to bravely 
serve in our nation's armed services. These brothers have proudly 
carried the ``Warrior'' American flag in the Royal Oak parade in past 
years to honor their tribe, the Chippewa Tribe of Sault Sainte Marie, 
and to honor all of the American heroes who fought so fearlessly and 
valiantly in past conflicts to preserve our liberty and democratic 
values.
  John Kerr, U.S. Marine Corps, Tom Kerr, U.S. Air Force, and Harvey 
Kerr, U.S. Navy, served in Vietnam simultaneously. Upon their safe 
return, a fourth brother, Michael Kerr, U.S. Army, voluntarily served 
in Vietnam and returned safely. These brothers reportedly owe their 
courage to their beloved mother, Rena Kerr, whose strength and 
conviction moved her to persevere beyond her personal challenges as a 
young widow and mother of nine children, to serve the needs of her 
fellow Americans. She was a devoted civil rights activist and committed 
herself to helping others. She taught her seven sons and two daughters 
to highly value their priceless freedoms and the proud Chippewa 
heritage of their late father, Ted Kerr. With so great a legacy, four 
Kerr sons were impressed to respond courageously and patriotically to 
the wartime call, and chose to stand and valiantly serve their country 
in the Vietnam War. Tom Kerr, who bravely flew a State Flag of Michigan 
in a F-4 on a combat mission over North Vietnam, was honored to present 
that flag after his return to Governor William Milliken in 1968.
  The Kerr brothers have made it a tradition to annually salute 
America's fallen heroes of past conflicts and wars on the national day 
of observance. They proudly carry the flag to honor those who gave the 
ultimate sacrifice in service to our country, and to join with their 
many families and friends to honor their memory. The Kerr brothers

[[Page S4622]]

march as an expression of reverence for those who fought along side 
them in Vietnam, but did not return. And the Kerr brothers have called 
our attention to the importance of cherishing our great freedom that 
has come through the ``blood of heroes.''
  The Kerr brothers can be proud of their dedication to their country, 
and their great commitment to honor the values of their family and the 
principles of democracy and freedom. We as a nation have benefitted 
from the sacrifices, extraordinary contributions and example of these 
four brothers who bravely went off to war after having lost their 
father. I know that my Senate colleagues join me and the Royal Oak 
Parade Council in paying tribute to the Kerr brothers for their service 
in our nation's armed forces and their great bravery and valor as 
Vietnam veterans.

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