[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 137 (Thursday, October 17, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1908]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


  HONORING RON JAMES, MARINE VETERAN AND OUR INTREPID DEFENDER OF THE 
                             AMERICAN FLAG

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 16, 2002

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, as the 107th Congress draws to a close, I 
would like to take this opportunity to recognize a great friend of the 
American people, a Marine Veteran, and our nation's intrepid defender 
of the American Flag, Mr. Ron James.
  Mr. James, who we also know as Mr. Ronald M. Sorenson, a Marine 
veteran of the Korean War era, and a great friend is a true American 
Patriot. Ron has dedicated his life to preserving, the core values of 
what our great nation stands for and for more than two-decades has 
educated our nation on flag etiquette, while paving the way and leading 
our nation in seeking a constitutional amendment prohibiting the 
desecration of our flag, the symbol of our great nation.
  Ron is a familiar face in the halls of Congress where he regularly 
visits our offices to seek our support for his noble endeavors. In 
addition to fighting for our flag, Ron also fights for the rights of 
our veterans and is active in numerous veterans organization and 
assists patients in our VA hospitals. Over the past twenty years Ron 
has walked thousands and thousands of miles carrying our flag, to 
garner support for not only a constitutional amendment protecting it 
from desecration, but also to raise awareness of its importance to our 
nation's youth.
  Following the horrific events of barbarity perpetrated against our 
nation by forces of true evil on September 11, 2001, Ron met with me to 
discuss legislation that would benefit the families of our everyday 
American heroes. On March 14, 2002, I sponsored H.R. 3968, the Fallen 
Heroes Flag Act of 2002, which provides a flag flown over the U.S. 
Capitol to the immediate family of our nation's brave firefighters, law 
enforcement officers, emergency medical technicians (EMT) and to other 
relief and rescue workers whose lives are lost in the line of duty. 
This important legislation ensures that our future generations of 
public servants who may pay the ultimate price for their service to our 
nation and to our communities are accorded the respect and honor that 
they deserve.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Ron's hard 
work and dedication that enabled us to turn an idea into a reality with 
our ``Fallen Heroes Flag Act of 2002.'' This is yet another selfless 
act of patriotism by Ron James, a true friend and a great American who 
lives his life to serve our nation, our veterans, and our flag.




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