[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 42 (Wednesday, March 12, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H1608-H1609]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  EXPRESSING SENSE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THAT ALL AMERICANS 
  SHOULD PARTICIPATE IN MOMENT OF SILENCE TO REFLECT UPON SERVICE AND 
         SACRIFICE OF MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES

  Mr. McINTYRE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 953) expressing the sense of the House of 
Representatives that all Americans should participate in a moment of 
silence to reflect upon the service and sacrifice of members of the 
United States Armed Forces both at home and abroad, and their families, 
as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 953

       Whereas it was through the brave and noble efforts of the 
     Nation's forefathers that the United States first gained 
     freedom and became a sovereign nation;
       Whereas there are more than 1,354,000 active component and 
     more than 1,100,000 reserve component members of the Armed 
     Forces serving the Nation in support and defense of the 
     values and freedom that all Americans cherish;
       Whereas the members of the Armed Forces deserve the utmost 
     respect and admiration of their fellow Americans for putting 
     their lives in danger for the sake of the freedoms enjoyed by 
     all Americans;
       Whereas the families of members of the Armed Forces make 
     sacrifices commensurate with the men and women of the Armed 
     Forces;
       Whereas members of the Armed Forces are defending freedom 
     and democracy around the globe and are playing a vital role 
     in protecting the safety and security of all Americans;
       Whereas the Nation officially celebrates and honors the 
     accomplishments and sacrifices of veterans, patriots, and 
     leaders who fought for freedom, this resolution pays tribute 
     to those who currently serve in the Armed Forces;
       Whereas all Americans should participate in a moment of 
     silence to support our troops and their families; and
       Whereas March 26th, 2008, is designated as ``National 
     Support Our Troops Day'': Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of 
     Representatives that all Americans should participate in a 
     moment of silence to reflect upon the service and sacrifice 
     of members of the United States Armed Forces both at home and 
     abroad, and their families.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
North Carolina (Mr. McIntyre) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. 
Knollenberg) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from North Carolina.


                             General Leave

  Mr. McINTRYE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from North Carolina?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. McINTYRE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight in support of H. Res. 953 honoring the 
service and sacrifice of the members of the United States Armed Forces, 
both at home and abroad, as well as their families.
  Every day we have servicemembers who volunteer to serve in harm's 
way. They have volunteered to serve our great country and protect its 
citizens from threats to liberty and our way of life.
  Indeed, by God's grace, our Nation now celebrates 232 years of 
freedom this year, and it is due to the service and sacrifices that 
have been made throughout our history by the men and women of this 
country who have served in its military.
  This evening, it is no different. Just like in the past when young 
men and women stepped forward to serve, they continue to do so. 
However, the difference now of course is our Nation is at war. And 
today, these men and women are joining the military knowing they will 
be headed overseas, knowing they will be put in harm's way, knowing 
that they will be sent away from their families and their loved ones 
and their communities.
  It takes tremendous courage, Mr. Speaker, and intestinal fortitude to 
come forward and wear the uniform, especially in today's environment 
where we are fighting conflicts literally all around the world. I have 
spent time with many of our men and women in uniform, both at home and 
abroad, in many different countries and on different continents, and I 
have seen it in their eyes and heard it from the deepest part of their 
hearts as they have expressed their commitment, as I have seen their 
courage, and I have understood their conviction to serve our country 
and to honor it, putting their very lives on the line. Their unselfish 
service and their sacrifice is quite evident.
  Whether it is our active duty personnel who have heard the call to 
duty or our Reserve component members who are our citizen soldiers who 
stand up to be counted to go out and serve and defend our values and 
freedom whenever called upon, we all are so appreciative of the service 
that our men and women in uniform give.
  And we realize it is not just the servicemembers themselves, but also 
their families who are making sacrifices. The parents, the spouses, the 
children who go many months, a year, and sometimes even longer without 
seeing their loved ones. It is they who are constantly concerned, and 
have to go about life here without their son or daughter or husband or 
wife or mother or father or brother or sister. It is they who also 
sacrifice for this great country by yielding up a family member to go 
and serve on behalf of all of us.
  Whether it is missing the birth of a child or the first steps of a 
newborn, whether it is watching their child in a

[[Page H1609]]

baseball game, as we approach the spring of the year, or missing a 
birthday or an anniversary, these are times that we know our families 
always cherish and that families are sacrificing, to give up, in order 
to allow their loved ones to go and serve our country and protect all 
of our citizens so that all of us, from whatever background, whatever 
calling we may be answering in life, have the freedom to go about our 
daily lives and the businesses and other events in which we are 
involved.
  Our servicemembers are defending freedom and democracy around the 
world, and they are playing a vital role in protecting the safety and 
security of all Americans.
  This moment of silence this resolution puts forth will take place on 
March 26, 2008, to celebrate the National Support Our Troops Day. It is 
just a small way that we as Americans can all show our pride and thanks 
for the many sacrifices made by our servicemembers and their families 
both at home and abroad.
  Although words are not enough to show how truly grateful we are to 
these families and to those in harm's way, it is one way that we can 
say thank you. It is one way we can say Godspeed. It is one way that we 
can show that we are praying for their safety and for their guidance 
and their wisdom.
  I can tell you, as a member of the Armed Services Committee and as 
one who serves on the Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces and also on 
the Subcommittee on Terrorism, how indeed we truly do respect and are 
grateful for our troops and what they are doing.
  As one who also represents a district that is sandwiched between Fort 
Bragg and Camp Lejeune, which is the home of many Reservists as well as 
National Guardsmen, we are very, very grateful for the service of all 
of those who are going forth on behalf of our country.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak to an issue very dear to me and 
very important to our Nation. In this country, we use holidays to 
remember the heroes of our past. We have among them Memorial Day, 
Veteran's Day, Columbus Day, Martin Luther King Day, and President's 
Day. These are fitting tributes for worthy heroes, but what of today's 
living heroes, our brave men and women on the front lines fighting in 
defense of our freedom?
  I believe that they, too, deserve special recognition and praise. Our 
very ability to assemble here today is a direct result of their 
actions.
  Two years ago, a young constituent of mine, Alexandra McGregor, 
presented me with the idea of a ``National Support the Troops Day.'' 
Alexandra had seen a news account of a fallen soldier, and she had the 
idea that we should set aside a day to honor our great American heroes 
fighting on the front lines.
  I couldn't agree with her more.
  Mr. Speaker, I stand here today, as I have before, because of 
Alexandra and others like her who believe we should and we must show 
our appreciation for the troops.
  This resolution calls for Americans to participate in a moment of 
silence on March 26 to recognize all of our active duty troops. 
Alexandra chose this date for a very personal reason. It is the birth 
date of her grandfather, a World War II veteran who helped instill in 
her such a deep love of country.
  I might add, Alexandra was just 16 years old. To this day, I'm moved 
to think that someone so young could have her priorities so straight.
  She put in a considerable amount of time and personal effort to see 
her idea become a reality. She went as far as to call a high school in 
each and every State to convince them of the importance of this issue.
  Such dedication only serves to underscore the very reason for that 
resolution. American families strongly support our troops, and while so 
many of them fight abroad on our behalf, we should do everything we can 
to show our appreciation and thanks. I hope you will all join with me 
in support of this resolution and in support of the more than 1.5 
million active duty troops who defend our freedoms each and every day.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. McINTYRE. Mr. Speaker, my thanks to Mr. Knollenberg for his 
gracious comments.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support 
of H. Res. 953 ``Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives 
that all Americans should participate in a moment of silence to reflect 
upon the service and sacrifice of members of the United States Armed 
Forces both at home and abroad,'' introduced by my distinguished 
colleague from Michigan, Representative Joe Knollenberg. This 
praiseworthy legislation will honor the lives, the work, and the memory 
of the countless men and women who everyday sacrifice their lives for 
our freedom.
  Our great Nation officially celebrates and honors the accomplishments 
and sacrifices of veterans, patriots, and leaders who fought for 
freedom, but does not yet officially pay tribute to those who currently 
serve in the Armed Forces.
  Accordingly, I praise those individuals who currently continue to 
accept the challenges posed by fighting for our liberty. Let us look to 
the sky to honor the memory of these heroes who give their lives for 
the foundations of our democracy. These individuals represent the best 
in all of us and it is in their memory that we should devote ourselves 
to continuing what they began. By humbling ourselves and reserving a 
moment of silence, we give reverence and recognition for those who make 
the ultimate sacrifice. Everyday, the men and women of our Armed Forces 
commence on a risky journey that many brave ones travel. In passing 
this important legislation, we effectively recall the purpose for which 
our elite Armed Forces are so dedicated.
  Mr. Speaker, there are currently more than 1,500,000 active and 
reserve component members of the Armed Forces serving the United States 
in support and defense of the values and freedom that all Americans 
cherish. Our Nation's brave men and women in uniform are willing to 
give the ultimate sacrifice in order to ensure the freedoms enjoyed by 
every American remain intact. The debt we owe our Nation's armed 
services cannot be quantified, the respect and admiration felt by all 
Americans hardly expressed; it is imperative that we show the men and 
women who offer their lives each day to protect our own just how much 
their courage means to us.
  Mr. Speaker, words cannot convey or adequately repay the debt that is 
owed. We cannot sufficiently articulate the feelings of sorrow that are 
universally felt; however, we can pay those men and women of the Armed 
Forces no greater tribute than to honor their sacrifice with a moment 
of silence. The service that these brave individuals provide is 
priceless and will never go unrecognized.
  I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important 
legislation, and, in so doing, giving our men and women in uniform the 
respect and recognition they deserve.
  Mr. McINTYRE. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. McIntyre) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 953, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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