[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 111 (Thursday, September 5, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S8295]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    FARRAGUT NAVAL TRAINING STATION

 Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the 60th 
anniversary of the Farragut Naval Training Station.
  Mr. President, over the past year, Americans have rediscovered the 
importance of our military and renewed their patriotism for our 
country. I am sure these were not reactions the terrorists desired.
  We were once again reminded that millions of our fellow Americans 
have fought, and many died, for the freedoms we enjoy. Freedoms our 
Founding Fathers found to be self-evident--freedoms we have been 
fighting to retain ever since, here and abroad.
  World War II was one of the most significant of those fights, and 
this Saturday, in Idaho, we are looking back and recognizing the 
contribution Farragut Naval Training Station made to our efforts. At 
Farragut, the U.S. Navy built the second-largest naval training 
facility in the world. Representative of the work ethic evident across 
America during WWII, 22,000 men, many of them Idahoans, united together 
and built 776 facilities across 4,000 acres in just 9 months.
  Then, in just 15 months, Farragut trained nearly 300,000 recruits to 
be sailors.
  This Saturday, September 7, 2002, many of those graduates and 
personnel will be returning to celebrate the 60th anniversary of 
Farragut Naval Training Station.
  Just like 60 years ago, they will come from all corners of the 
country and will arrive with varied memories and expectations. But, one 
thing is for sure, they will all come because their experience at 
Farragut affected their lives in profound ways.
  I am proud and grateful for the men and women who trained and served 
at Farragut Naval Training Station. Their sacrifice for our freedoms is 
priceless. As the years go by, fewer and fewer veterans of WWII are 
around to hear our thanks. For those who are, I hope they hear us loud 
and clear: Thank you. We are all so grateful.

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