[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 21 (Wednesday, February 25, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E226-E227]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  COMMEMORATING NORTH DAKOTA'S PRISONER OF WAR AND MISSING IN ACTION 
                                SOLDIERS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. EARL POMEROY

                            of north dakota

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 25, 2004

  Mr. POMEROY. Mr. Speaker, at an event last year commemorating North 
Dakota's Prisoner of War and Missing in Action soldiers, I had the 
privilege of listening to Joanna Sherman read from her essay, 
``Freedom's Obligation.'' Joanna's work was chosen as the North Dakota 
State winner in the Veterans of Foreign Wars Voice of Democracy 
Scholarship Contest. This essay is a testament to the great value of 
instilling patriotism and the appreciation of our Nation's freedom into 
our Nation's youth.
  I would like to include in the Record her essay, which eloquently 
describes the meaning of freedom and the cost of preserving it. I 
commend Joanna for her achievement.

                          Freedom's Obligation

                          (By Joanna Sherman)

       The ancient Athenian leader Pericles, a proponent of 
     democracy, once said, ``Freedom is the sure possession of 
     those alone who have the courage to defend it.'' Freedom is 
     America's greatest gift, and it is the duty of the American 
     people to honor and cherish it. Our great gift of freedom 
     relies heavily on three obligations: remembering the past, 
     understanding the present, and committing to the future.
       How can we ensure tomorrow's freedom? We must remember that 
     today's freedom was paid for by the sacrifices of yesterday. 
     From the past, there are countless personal stories that 
     remember freedom's fight. My grandparents' story is only one 
     of them. They were married July 2, 1942. One week later my

[[Page E227]]

     grandfather was inducted into the army at Fort Snelling. 
     During World War II, he served in Patton's Third Army in the 
     European Theatre and fought in ``The Battle of the Bulge.'' 
     My grandmother has told us many stories of these difficult 
     times. During the first months after their marriage, she was 
     able to follow him across the country while he completed his 
     training and was on maneuvers. Each day he would call her 
     from the base and would tell her, ``Lucille, one day my calls 
     will stop, and you will know that means I have been shipped 
     out.'' One day the calls did stop. She went back to her 
     hometown and waited. Three long years later, he returned 
     home. They were so lucky. Her younger brother, many of his 
     friends, and so many others, did not come back. Our freedoms 
     were ``paid in full'' by those brave men and women who have 
     put freedom far above themselves. However, the luxury of our 
     freedom must not make us complacent. We too may find 
     ourselves again face to face with hardships such as those 
     experienced by past generations. We must remember their 
     courage. In remembering their stories of honor, dignity and 
     sacrifice, I can only pray that we preserve our freedom today 
     with the same measure of success.
       Samuel Johnson once wrote, ``The future is purchased by the 
     present.'' I believe that freedom is no different. We must 
     have an understanding of the evil present today. On September 
     11th, our freedom and our way of life came under attack. The 
     brave men and women of the past who sacrificed their lives to 
     extinguish evil in the world, will have not died in vain if 
     we continue to extinguish the evil that is present today. 
     Like yesterday's Nazis, today's terrorists want to drive 
     freedom into extinction. They must not, and will not win if 
     we defend our precious freedom. We must do it for ourselves, 
     and for the future generations of Americans. Now is the time 
     to purchase the freedom of the future.
       We have a supreme obligation to commit ourselves to do our 
     duty for our country. We must pay the price for tomorrow's 
     freedom. Tomorrow's children must be assured by our 
     generation that it is our duty to protect their freedom. Some 
     of us will become soldiers like my grandfather, and some will 
     serve in other ways, but all of us must be willing to 
     sacrifice, and remain committed to play a part and pay the 
     price today for freedom tomorrow.
       All of us can help pay for tomorrow's freedom by dedicating 
     ourselves to what our ancestors have fought so hard for, and 
     carrying out obligations of remembrance, understanding, and 
     commitment. Remember by learning your history and by 
     listening to those with stories to tell. Understand by being 
     aware and mindful of current history, and commit to this 
     country by being willing to sacrifice to preserve our 
     freedom. Call it patriotism. Call it love of country. Call it 
     loyalty. But whatever you call it, keep it in your heart, and 
     freedom will always follow.
       My grandparents have been married for 60 years. They are my 
     heroes!

                          ____________________