[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 128 (Saturday, August 4, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1747]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    INTRODUCING MEMORIAL MARKER BILL

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                         HON. JAMES R. LANGEVIN

                            of rhode island

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, August 3, 2007

  Mr. LANGEVIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to reintroduce a bill that 
would allow family members to request a memorial marker for placement 
in a national cemetery in order to commemorate servicemembers buried 
overseas.
  As Members of Congress, we all have the great opportunity to hear 
stories of duty and honor from our constituents. I had such a chance 
right after Memorial Day in 2004 when I received a letter from Henry 
Stad, a resident of Rhode Island and a World War II veteran. Mr. Stad 
asked that I sponsor a bill that would allow family members of 
servicemembers that were killed in action and buried overseas to be 
able to request a burial plaque to be set in a family burial plot in 
the United States. I was happy to look into this request from a man who 
gave so much to his country.
  Madam Speaker, as you know, the United States currently has 24 
permanent overseas burial grounds that are the final resting place for 
nearly 125,000 of the brave men and women who died serving our country. 
These sites are the responsibility of the American Battle Monuments 
Commission and are a wonderful tribute to those who sacrificed for our 
Nation. However, the Department of Veterans Affairs maintains that 
because these graves can be visited, there is no need to provide 
families at home with a memorial marker for their deceased loved ones 
buried there.
  As a result, I introduced a bill that will help families memorialize 
those who died in service to our country and are buried overseas. 
According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, those servicemembers 
whose remains are classified as ``unavailable for burial'' are eligible 
for government-provided memorial markers or headstones. While this 
classification includes those whose remains have not been recovered or 
who were buried at sea, there is one glaring exception to this 
definition--those who died fighting for freedom abroad and were laid to 
rest there.
  Families are proud of these courageous men and women who answered the 
call to protect our country and then paid the ultimate price. 
Unfortunately, for many families, a trip abroad to visit their loved 
ones is not possible due to finances or old age. A memorial marker is a 
way to keep the memory of their loved one alive, while also teaching 
younger generations about sacrifice. We should not deny the families of 
these courageous men and women the ability to obtain memorial markers 
when we already do it for so many others. To correct this, my 
legislation will add overseas burials to the VA's ``unavailable for 
burial'' classification and finally let these men and women be 
memorialized by their families here at home.
  Madam Speaker, this legislation will help memorialize those that 
accepted the call to protect our country.




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