[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 138 (Tuesday, December 7, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2184]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        REMEMBERING PEARL HARBOR

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                             HON. JOE BACA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 7, 2004

  Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the American 
patriots who lost their lives on the fateful day of December 7, 1941.
  In the greatest defining moment of the world's most defining war in 
our history, over 2,400 Americans were killed and more than 1,100 were 
wounded at Pearl Harbor, including hundreds of innocent civilians.
  As costly as it was in the lives of our men and women in uniform, in 
military assets, and in esteem and pride, Pearl Harbor was a watershed 
moment for America.
  December 7, 1941 marked the turning point for our Nation and 
determined the future of our foreign policy. America changed from a 
Nation turned inward to a strong and unified superpower, steadfast in 
our commitment to champion and defend the ideals of freedom and 
democracy.
  Pearl Harbor caused our Nation to wholeheartedly commit to winning 
World War II, changing the course of our Nation's history and the 
world's future.
  The catastrophic loss of American soldiers led to our country 
becoming the America we live in today. At home and abroad, we fight for 
the ideals of social and political equality. This policy was founded in 
the aftermath of Pearl Harbor and continues to be our Nation's moral 
compass.
  This day should not be remembered with hatred or bitterness. It 
should be a day to honor the bravery of our men and women and 
remembered as the day our Nation was united and our sacrifices 
consecrated.
  We learned in World War II that no single nation holds a monopoly on 
wisdom, morality or right to power, but that we must fight for the weak 
and promote democracy. These are the difficult lessons learned in 1941 
and enshrined in Pearl Harbor.




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