[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 148 (Wednesday, November 9, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S12558]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             REVOLUTIONARY WAR TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER

  Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, before I talk about the situation in 
Iraq, I want to mention something that has gone on in my City of 
Philadelphia which I think deserves recognition during Veterans Day; 
that is, a situation with the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from the 
Revolutionary War. That is a memorial which was erected in Philadelphia 
in 1954. There was an eternal flame added to that memorial back in 1976 
during our bicentennial year. About 10 years ago that flame went out, 
and for 10 years the City of Philadelphia and the government of the 
City of Philadelphia refused to relight it--- to fix the flame.
  It wasn't until the efforts of Larry Mendte, a journalist for the CBS 
station WKYW television in Philadelphia, and the work he did in 
bringing this issue to light--other journalists have brought this to 
light in the past--but to Larry's credit, he did not give up. And they 
continued to run story after story and hound the city of Philadelphia 
to try to finally fix this monument and fix this eternal flame.
  I wish to give thanks to the veterans community in Philadelphia, to 
WKYW, to Larry, and ultimately I have to congratulate Mayor Street. 
After an enormous amount of pressure put on his administration, Mayor 
Street finally decided to fix the flame.
  Once the flame was fixed, the National Park Service took that flame 
over and will make sure that the flame at the Tomb of the Unknown 
Soldier in the Revolutionary War, where so many died in the city of 
Philadelphia, will burn as an eternal flame.
  As we all know, this Friday is Veterans Day, a day when Americans pay 
tribute to the brave men and women who have served in our armed forces. 
There is no group of Americans to which we owe more than those who have 
fought to protect the freedoms that are the very heart of our Nation.
  The truth is that our veterans, both past and present, should be 
honored every day of the year. We would not be here today, enjoying all 
the blessings we have if it were not for the sacrifices of those who 
took up arms to defend America. And so, I rise today to recognize the 
efforts of the residents of my home state who have fought to ensure 
that those who passed away in service to our country are remembered, 
day in and day out, with the reverence they deserve.
  The city of Philadelphia, so central to the American Revolution, 
became the final resting place for thousands of Revolutionary soldiers. 
Many of these brave men, America's first patriots, were laid to rest in 
mass, unmarked graves throughout the Philadelphia region. To honor 
these soldiers, and the millions more who have fought for our Nation 
since its inception, a war memorial was erected in Philadelphia in 
1954. Ever since, this monument, known as the Tomb of the Unknown 
Soldier, has stood as a tribute to those who first made the ultimate 
sacrifice in the name of America.
  During the bicentennial celebration in 1976, an eternal flame was 
added to the monument. This flame, a symbol of the enduring spirit of 
the soldiers that passed, was to burn continuously in their honor. Yet 
over time, the flame was neglected and allowed to die out. For the last 
few years, this monument has stood incomplete, and as a tribute to our 
soldiers, insufficient.
  Thankfully, Philadelphia is a city filled with conscientious, 
concerned citizens. On June 6 of this year, Mr. Larry Mendte, a 
journalist for the CBS station WKYW, reported that the flame had gone 
out. The response from viewers was immediate. The next night, a veteran 
of the gulf war traveled to the monument and lit her own flame, a flame 
that would certainly not wane due to neglect, thus beginning a 
candlelight vigil that would be joined by many others.
  Mr. Mendte, along with his colleagues at CBS, would not let this 
story disappear. He tracked down city officials, demanded an 
explanation, and refused to accept their attempts to brush him off. On 
June 13, merely seven days after the initial story was broadcast, the 
city began the repair process. Thanks to the efforts of Mr. Mendte, 
WKYW, and the many concerned Philadelphia residents who responded to 
this story, over 100 individuals were able to witness the reigniting of 
the eternal flame on June 29.
  An inscription on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier reads, ``Freedom is 
a light for which many men have died in darkness.'' Freedom is a light, 
a light that still shines bright throughout the world thanks to the 
effort and sacrifice of American soldiers. Today in Philadelphia, a 
different light is shining, once again, in recognition of these 
soldiers and what they have given for us.
  I commend Mr. Mendte and his colleagues at WKYW for bringing 
attention to this issue and pushing for its resolution, as well as the 
residents of Philadelphia who responded, in force, with their support. 
Most of all, I thank America's veterans, who have given more than we 
can ever repay, and deserve to be honored and recognized at every 
opportunity. The eternal flame at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a 
fitting tribute, and I am proud to represent such dedicated, patriotic 
citizens who worked so hard for its restoration.
  Congratulations to all involved in the city of Philadelphia.

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