[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 71 (Wednesday, May 25, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1094]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




IN RECOGNITION OF THE JACKSON COUNTY VETERANS MEMORIAL COMMITTEE ON THE 
                      DEDICATION OF VETERANS PARK

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GREG WALDEN

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 25, 2005

  Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on the occasion of 
the dedication of Medford, Oregon's Veterans Park Memorial to pay 
special tribute to the members of the Veterans Park Memorial Committee 
of Jackson County and the many area volunteers whose time and effort 
have made this event possible. I am proud to represent these 
distinguished Americans in Congress, and recognize not only their 
tremendous work to make this park a fitting memorial to the many brave 
patriots who have served our great Nation, but also for each of their 
years of military service.
  In 1919, on a small plot of land just south of Medford, a young man 
named Paul Rynning planted a maple tree in memory of a friend who had 
been killed in World War I. After that first tree was planted, others 
soon followed, each dedicated to the memory of a World War I soldier 
who had given his life for the cause of freedom. In 1958, Jackson 
County deeded the park to the City of Medford and on Memorial Day, in 
1986, it was officially proclaimed Veterans Park. Later that year the 
Veterans Memorial Committee was incorporated with the goal of 
completing the memorial that had been started so humbly 67 years 
earlier.
  For the past 19 years, local veterans service organizations including 
the Non Commissioned Officers Association, the Disabled American 
Veterans, the Fleet Reserve Association, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, 
the American Legion, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, the Korean 
War Veterans Association, the Air Force Sergeants Association, the 
Vietnam Veterans of America, the American Merchant Marine Veterans, the 
Military Officers Association of America, the Marine Corps League and 
the Navy League, along with individual volunteers and public and 
corporate sponsors, have pulled together, donating thousands of hours 
of their time and hundreds of thousands of dollars to make this 
memorial a reality. The fruit of their labor is this memorial that 
recognizes the services of all our Nation's veterans--from the American 
Revolution to the Global War on Terrorism and from all of the Armed 
Services.
  On May 29th, 2005, the citizens of Jackson County dedicate the 
Veterans Park Memorial and laud the volunteers of the Veterans Park 
Memorial Committee who have, through their untiring efforts and 
devotion to their cause, brought their 19-year dream to reality.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be part of this celebration and I will 
continue to do all I can in Congress to express my gratitude to the 
brave patriots who've preserved the freedoms we all enjoy.

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