[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 103 (Thursday, July 25, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S7380]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 131--DESIGNATING THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER 
              2002, AS ``NATIONAL MILITARY FAMILY MONTH''

  Mr. INOUYE submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

                            S. Con. Res. 131

       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) designates the month of November 2002, as ``National 
     Military Family Month''; and
       (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
     calling upon the people of the United States to observe the 
     month with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
  Mr. INOUYE. Madam President, today I rise to honor all our military 
families by submitting a Concurrent Resolution to designate November 
2002, as National Military Family Month. As we all know, memories fade 
and the hardships experienced by our military families are easily 
forgotten unless they touch our own immediate family.
  Today, we have our men and women deployed all over the world, engaged 
in this war on terrorism. These far-ranging military deployments are 
extremely difficult on the families who bear this heavy burden.
  To honor these families the Armed Services YMCA has sponsored 
Military Family Week in late November since 1996. However, due to 
frequent `short week' conflicts around the Thanksgiving holidays, the 
designated week has not always afforded enough time to schedule 
observance on and near our military bases.
  I believe a month long observation will allow greater opportunity to 
plan events. Moreover, it will provide a greater opportunity to 
stimulate media support.
  A Concurrent Resolution will help pave the way for this effort. I ask 
my colleagues to join me in supporting this tribute to our military 
families.

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