[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 37 (Tuesday, April 5, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E528]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING THE AMERICAN AIR POWER MUSEUM IN FARMINGDALE, NEW YORK

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                           HON. STEVE ISRAEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, April 5, 2005

  Mr. ISRAEL. Mr Speaker, I rise today to recognize the contributions 
of the American Airpower Museum in Farmingdale, New York to the 
commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the liberation of American 
POWs at the end of World War II.
  Sixty years ago this spring, over 100,000 American and Allied POWs 
were liberated by Soviet troops as they swept aside enemy forces in 
Eastern Europe. This liberation marked the end of forced marches, 
stinging cold, constant hunger and the everpresent threat of summary 
execution by a collapsing Nazi regime. Simultaneously, advancing Allied 
forces also discovered Hitler's death camps and their wretched legacy 
of inhumanity.
  As we observe this anniversary, I am truly proud to have the American 
Airpower Museum at the Republic Airport in Farmingdale in my 
congressional district. The museum has established a new permanent 
tribute to honor those who endured the POW ``stalags'' and to solemnly 
mark the liberation of the death camps built by the Third Reich for the 
purpose of murdering millions of European Jews.
  The museum's tribute includes a recreated watch tower and barracks, a 
detailed diorama of a German ``stalag,'' the names of those New Yorkers 
who were POWs during World War II and a tribute to American POWs in 
other conflicts. This will mark the first permanent museum tribute to 
American POWs in the New York region.
  It is vital that we continue to remember the horrors of the Holocaust 
and pay tribute to both the victims and the brave soldiers who 
contributed to the liberation of Europe from Nazi rule. I strongly 
commend the leadership that the American Airpower Museum of Farmingdale 
has taken on this issue and urge other museums to follow suit.

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