[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 56 (Wednesday, April 9, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E549-E550]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  NATIONAL MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD

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                               speech of

                            HON. TODD TIAHRT

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, April 8, 2008

  Mr. TIAHRT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues in 
support of H. Res 265, honoring military children during ``National 
Month of the Military Child.'' While we understand and praise the 
personal sacrifices our brave men and women make in defending our great 
nation, we frequently forget about the sacrifices and burdens that 
children and families face while their parents are serving in the 
United States Armed Forces.
  In peacetime, children of military parents bear the burdens of 
numerous military moves, both overseas and in the United States. In 
these moves, they cope with attending several different schools, losing 
good friends, leaving good communities, and typically have parents who 
cannot attend their sporting events, music recitals, and other after 
school activities. The military duty is a 24-7, 365-day commitment for 
the soldier and also their families.
  In wartime, children of deployed military parents spend every day 
living in fear of the unknown. When will my mom or dad return? Will 
they be severely injured? Will they be killed? In years past, military 
children often faced one deployment lasting anywhere from 4 to 18 
months. However, in today's long Global War

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on Terror, many military members and families are facing their second, 
third, or fourth deployments.
  The impacts of these additional and prolonged separations are not 
clear and may have lasting adverse effects on military children and 
families. When military members return from deployments, we focus on 
the impact of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder; we also need to study and 
analyze the impacts of traumas created by war and deployments on the 
children of these military parents.
  The children of military members play a vital role in the defense of 
this country. Their contributions and sacrifices have not gone 
unnoticed. This is our opportunity as a Nation to recognize their 
dedication and support. We honor our brave men and women in the Armed 
Forces who have dedicated their lives to defending our freedoms, but we 
must also pay great tribute to the children and the families of 
soldiers, who bear the burden of their tremendous sacrifice.
  I encourage my colleagues to support this important resolution and am 
pleased that today the House recognizes the role of the military 
children.

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