[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 18 (Tuesday, February 14, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E154]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    MR. BENJAMIN SOLOMON, LETTER TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW YORK TIMES

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                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 14, 2006

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring to the attention 
of my colleagues a letter that was published in the November 8th 
edition of the New York Times. The letter was composed by my 
constituent--Mr. Benjamin Solomon of Evanston, Illinois. Mr. Solomon 
writes about the critical importance of openness in government, the 
serious nature of war, and the importance of honoring our nation's 
veterans. I hope that the words of Mr. Solomon, who is a veteran of 
World War II, are taken into serious consideration.

                [From the New York Times, Nov. 8, 2005]

                         Killed, Then Exploited

       To the Editor:
       ``The Mysterious Death of Pat Tillman,'' by Frank Rich 
     (column, Nov. 6), left me sick at heart. I am a World War II 
     veteran in my later 80's who still thinks of his tent mates 
     who were lost to enemy action.
       Pat Tillman, the Arizona Cardinals defensive back who 
     volunteered for the Army, was killed last year in 
     Afghanistan, apparently by friendly fire. The cynical 
     exploitation of his death and the lies surrounding it are a 
     betrayal of this brave soldier and his family, of all the 
     others who made the same sacrifice in Iraq, and of the ideals 
     of decency we claim for our nation.
       The thought that the responsible high-level officials in 
     the Pentagon and the White House are still in power frightens 
     me.
                                                 Benjamin Solomon,
     Evanston, Ill., Nov. 6, 2005.

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