[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 72 (Thursday, May 20, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5938-S5939]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             MEMORIAL DAY 2004 AND WWII MEMORIAL DEDICATION

  Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, on this Memorial Day, I encourage my 
fellow New Mexicans to take a few moments to remember those Americans 
who have given their lives in the name of freedom. The freedom we enjoy 
today remains only because of their courage and unselfish sacrifice.
  American men and women, throughout our Nation's history, have fought 
and died because they believed in their country and believed in 
preserving its immeasurable blessings. Many gave their lives for her in 
a far away land, and failed to make it back to the country or family 
they loved.
  With this upcoming remembrance, I am reminded of Oliver Wendell 
Holmes, Jr. Holmes gave us some of the best thoughts, and his speech 
and writings, as a whole, will always be among the best of their kind.
  On May 30, 1884, Holmes delivered a Memorial Day address before John 
Sedgwick Post No. 4, Grand Army of the Republic. The address reflected 
on the Civil War and during his address he focused on a question posed 
to him by a young man, about why people still kept up Memorial Day. In 
his wonderful style he gave attention why Memorial Day is what it is.
  He said, ``Not the answer that you and I should give to each other-
not the expression of those feelings that, so long as you live, will 
make this day sacred to memories of love and grief and heroic youth--
but an answer which should command the assent of those who do not share 
our memories, and in which we of the North and our brethren of the 
South could join in perfect accord. . . . but Memorial Day may and 
ought to have a meaning also for those who do not share our memories.''
  One month ago on April 29, 2004, the National World War II Memorial 
opened for public view. The memorial is the first national memorial 
dedicated to all who served during the WWII. The formal dedication will 
take place this Memorial Day weekend as a service and tribute to 
members of the World War II generation, and to share their memories. 
The memorial honors all military veterans of the war, the citizens of 
the time that stayed on the home front, and the America's moral purpose 
that ultimately warranted our nation's involvement.
  The memorial was authorized by Congress in 1993, and this year's 
Memorial Day celebration on the National

[[Page S5939]]

Mall will culminate a long effort to honor America's World War II 
generation. I take a quick moment to thank my friend former Majority 
Leader Bob Dole, a wounded and decorated WWII veteran who served in 
this body, for chairing the World War II Memorial Commission and for 
giving countless hours to this wonderful work.
  It has been nearly 59 years since the end of World War II. However, I 
think it is safe to say that from 1939 to 1945, when every major power 
in the world was involved in a worldwide conflict--those times, like 
the Civil War, were some of our nation's toughest. We live in a 
remarkably different world today, but Memorial Day has kept many 
memories. At this moment in America's history, our men and women in 
uniform are engaged in conflict in both Iraq and Afghanistan. They 
serve with the same courage and commitment shown by Americans of 
generations past, and they deserve our thoughts and prayers.
  From the Bataan Peninsula to beaches of Normandy, from the Ia Drang 
Valley to Inchon, from Iwo Jima and Okinawa to the North Apennine 
Mountains of Italy, from Afghanistan to Iraq, and many other conflicts 
too numerous to mention, American men and women have fought and died 
because of their love of country.
  I am proud that we have kept up Memorial Day. This one, in 
particular, brings significant meaning and a special time to remember 
and reflect. I pay a special tribute today to those who have fallen 
during the two conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, including those from 
my home state of New Mexico: CPT Tamara Archuleta of Los Lunas; Marine 
CPL Aaron Austin of Lovington; SrA Jason Cunningham of Carlsbad; Army 
SP James Pirtle of La Mesa; and Marine PFC Christopher Ramos of 
Albuquerque.
  As we enjoy this holiday weekend with our family and friends, let us 
take some time to recognize the valor with which so many of our 
soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines have fought when called upon by 
their country. Finally, may our United States continue to be blessed 
and may America forever remain the land of the free and the home of the 
brave.

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