[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 154 (Friday, November 18, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2411]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               VETERANS DAY COMMEMORATION AT DODONA MANOR

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. FRANK R. WOLF

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 18, 2005

  Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I was honored to participate in Veterans Day 
observances held at the George C. Marshall International Center at 
Dodona Manor in Leesburg, Virginia.
  The commemoration was organized by U.S. Army retired Colonel Gerhard 
L. Jacobson and featured U.S. Army retired Lieutenant General Frank A. 
Camm as the keynote speaker. I would like to share for our colleagues 
the stirring remarks by General Camm.

                          Veterans Day Speech


                           november 11, 2005

       Thank you, Jake . . . Mr. Price, fellow veterans and 
     American citizens . . . as a descendant of the Rector family 
     on nearby Goose Creek, I am proud to join you here at Dodona 
     Manor, the home of one of our greatest veterans, General 
     George Marshall, in paying tribute to the service of 
     America's veterans.
       This is the day we remember our debt to those who've worn 
     the uniform of the United States. This is the day we thank 
     and honor ALL who have. served honorably in the military--in 
     wartime or peacetime. We honor them for their patriotism, 
     their love of country, and their willingness to serve and 
     sacrifice for the common good. And we thank them for their 
     service, expressing our appreciation of their contributions 
     to national security, and recognizing that all who served 
     have sacrificed and done their duty. Today, all veterans can 
     be certain that the Nation they served and the people they 
     defended are grateful.
       It is appropriate, indeed, to observe Veterans Day here at 
     Dodona Manor, the home of General Marshall, who was born just 
     125 miles from here on New Year's Eve 125 years ago. . . 
     Having lived next door to General Marshall in Washington in 
     1938, having seen him speak at West Point, and having served 
     in the Army's War Plans Division that he had headed 20 years 
     before, I've been inspired by numerous accounts of this man 
     whom President Roosevelt considered to be the Pershing of 
     World War II and whom President Truman said was the greatest 
     military man the Nation ever produced.
       General Marshall's 50 years of public service epitomize the 
     selfless service so distinctive of our veterans. . . After 
     serving General Pershing in and after World War I, General 
     Marshall commanded troops in China, revamped officer training 
     at Fort Benning, became Army Chief of Staff and exemplified 
     selfless service in his gracious acceptance of President 
     Roosevelt's keeping him in Washington during World War II 
     instead of acceding to his desire to command troops in 
     Europe. . . He gave selfless service again when heading 
     toward well-deserved retirement in 1945. . . He had just 
     entered Dodona Manor when a telephone call came from 
     President Truman asking him to forego his first vacation in 
     years and devote many months as a special presidential envoy 
     to China . . . He extended his selfless service again and 
     again when he became Truman's Secretary of State from 1947 to 
     49 creating the Marshall Plan, . . . and when he shortly 
     thereafter accepted President Truman's request to take over 
     the American Red Cross. . . After the Korean War began in 
     1950, President Truman interrupted General Marshall's 
     vacation at a Michigan fishing camp to call him back to 
     further selfless service in Washington as Secretary of 
     Defense. . . Meanwhile, Senator Joe McCarthy was castigating 
     George Marshall for treason, calling him a man (quote) 
     ``guilty of an immense conspiracy'' and making (quote) 
     ``common cause with Stalin''--General Marshall refused to 
     respond, saying, (quote) ``If I have to explain at this point 
     that I am not a traitor to the United States, I hardly think 
     it's worth it.''. . . Shortly after retiring again to Dodona 
     Manor in 1951, he agreed to chair the American Battle 
     Monuments Commission. And in 1953, upon becoming the first 
     professional soldier to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, he 
     typically credited it to others, telling reporters it was a 
     tribute ( quote) ``to the American people.'' . . . Indeed, 
     all of us veterans are proud to count General Marshall as one 
     of us!
       Our veterans have borne the cost of America's wars and 
     stood watch over America's peace. Among the 42 million 
     veterans of American wars, over 600 thousand died in battle 
     and over 2 million were wounded. Today some 20 million living 
     Americans wear the proud title of veteran. They include a few 
     dozen survivors of World War I, over 3 million of World War 
     II, 3 million of the Korean War, 8 million of the Vietnam 
     War, and 2 million of the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
       Fortunate to have a number of veterans with us here today, 
     I want to acknowledge them, . . . so I ask all veterans 
     present to please stand for us to recognize you? . . . 
     (APPLAUSE). . . Thank you. . . Like Henry the Fifth in 
     Shakespeare, we vets have a special bond with those with whom 
     we've served. . . Trapped and outnumbered by the French army, 
     Henry spoke to his men before the battle. His address is a 
     classic in military legend: ``For he today that sheds his 
     blood with me shall be my brother'' . . . And laying into 
     slackers who'd avoided serving, he declared, ``and gentlemen 
     in england now abed . . . shall think themselves accursed 
     they were not here.''. . .
       Today, our soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen serve in 
     120 countries throughout the world during our ongoing 
     conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. And the legacy of our 
     veterans continues to inspire each of them to answer the call 
     of duty. As we join in thanking our veterans for their 
     service, let's applaud them not only for their past service, 
     but the example they set for our current and future military. 
     . . After the Korean War, our veterans returned home to a 
     country indifferent to their service. . . After Vietnam, our 
     military faced scorn from some circles. . . Indifference and 
     scorn have no place in our heroes' homecoming. . . Instead, 
     let's show our gratitude by welcoming all of our heroes when 
     they return to the cities and towns they have so bravely 
     defended.
       Now with the Global War on Terrorism, we cannot take our 
     past peace and prosperity for granted. Our veterans know that 
     freedom isn't free and that eternal vigilance is the price we 
     must pay for our liberty. We must resolve to keep faith with 
     our veterans as this nation fights and wins the Global War on 
     Terrorism.
       We must resolve to thank and support all our veterans for 
     their outstanding and selfless service to our nation and to 
     thank them not only today, Veterans Day, but every day. 
     Remember our veterans and the price they paid physically, 
     financially, and emotionally to keep this nation safe. . . 
     And remember our troops, America's future veterans, sons and 
     daughters, who have selflessly made the decision to defend 
     our count and all it stands for.
       Additionally, let's remember that veterans' families and 
     military families have also paid the price for freedom. 
     Though we may not be able to adequately thank our veterans, 
     our soldiers, and their families, . . . we must always 
     support them.
       With your support, our soldiers, America's future veterans, 
     will continue to honor their sacred duty of protecting our 
     nation, our fellow citizens, and the freedoms we hold so 
     dear.
       Remember the Biblical questions: ``Whom shall I send? and 
     Who will go for us?''. . . And whoever answers with the 
     Biblical reply of ``Here am I. Send me'' . . . will return a 
     veteran. Let us honor that veteran and resolve on this 
     Veterans Day to remember that he or she goes for us and 
     deserves our support and respect.

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