[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 148 (Wednesday, September 17, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H8375-H8377]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING LOWERING FLAG OVER CAPITOL TO HONOR 
                            MILITARY DEATHS

  Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 61) expressing the 
sense of the Congress that the United States flag flown over the United 
States Capitol should be lowered to half-mast one day each month in 
honor of the brave men and women from the United States who have lost 
their lives in military conflicts.
  The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
  The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 61

       Whereas more than 1,000,000 brave men and women from the 
     United States have died in military conflicts from the time 
     of the Revolutionary War through Operation Iraqi Freedom;
       Whereas the people of the United States mourn the loss of 
     the brave men and women who have given their lives for this 
     country;

       Whereas the United States has not forgotten the sacrifices 
     that brave men and women have made to protect our Nation and 
     our freedom; and
       Whereas paying tribute to the brave men and women from the 
     United States who gave their lives for this Nation 
     demonstrates the spirit of patriotism that is the foundation 
     of our great country: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring),  That it is the sense of the Congress that the 
     United States flag flown over the United States Capitol 
     should be lowered to half-mast one day each month in honor of 
     the brave men and women from the United States who have lost 
     their lives in military conflicts.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
California (Mrs. Davis) and the gentleman from California (Mr. 
McCarthy) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask that all Members have 5 
legislative days to revise and extend their remarks in the Record on 
this resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  This resolution recognizes our servicemen and -women who have fought 
and died for our country and the sacrifice made by their families. The 
resolution provides for the flag over the Capitol to be raised at half-
staff once a month in honor of all the U.S. men and women that have 
made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of our Nation.

[[Page H8376]]

  While we in Congress and the majority of the American people go about 
our day-to-day lives, this small gesture should serve as a constant 
reminder of those brave men and women who have given their lives in 
defense of the freedoms that we, the American people, enjoy. We owe all 
of our fallen servicemen and -women a debt that can never be repaid.
  I am pleased to support this resolution, and I urge all of my 
colleagues to support it as well.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McCARTHY of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of 
H. Con. Resolution 61, which expresses the sense of the Congress that 
the United States flag flown over the United States Capitol should be 
lowered to half-mast 1 day each month in honor of the brave men and 
women from the United States who have lost their lives in military 
conflicts.
  For all of those who work in or visit the Capitol each day, the flag 
that flies atop this building is an emblem of the democratic principles 
that guide this body. This powerful symbol of freedom is even more 
striking when it's lowered to half-mast, signaling that our Nation is 
in mourning.
  The men and women of our military who defend our Nation in the time 
of war may be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice for our 
country. Lowering the flag atop the Capitol once a month in their honor 
is a small yet meaningful way to communicate how deeply their loss is 
felt by all Americans.
  In addition to being a moving tribute to the members of our military 
who we have lost, it is also a reminder to all Members of Congress that 
the actions we take--or do not take--have profound consequences on the 
men and women of our military. When we talk about funding our armored 
vehicles or express our views on intelligence gathering in the war on 
terror, it is imperative that we do not forget the real ramifications 
that our decisions will have on our servicemen and -women who must live 
with the consequences of our actions.
  I urge my colleagues to join with me in supporting this moving 
tribute to our Nation's Armed Forces.
  With that, Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield as much 
time as he may consume to the sponsor of this bill, Representative 
Lincoln Davis of Tennessee.
  Mr. LINCOLN DAVIS of Tennessee. I thank the gentlelady from 
California.
  All of us, I'm sure, have had an opportunity--at least most--to visit 
the war zones in Iraq and Afghanistan. And being there, we have 
observed the greatness of the volunteers who volunteer their service 
for this great country and to help preserve, defend, and to bring about 
liberty and freedom to others in different parts of the world today, 
mainly in those two war zones in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the third 
one in the area of the Balkans.
  But as they serve, some give the ultimate sacrifice. And for all of 
those who serve and who have served, and for those who have given the 
ultimate sacrifice, we can never really do enough as a Nation to thank 
them for their service and, ultimately, leaving their families with the 
loss of their lives.
  In 1775, a shot heard around the world brought American men and women 
into battle at the Siege of Boston that lasted through the spring of 
1776, which eventually brought us into war for our independence. After 
several years and the loss of many lives, we obtained our independence. 
Since that time, our young men and women have been willing to volunteer 
to go into the battlefields to preserve the freedom that our first 
military men and women fought to give us, and we've been willing to 
preserve that and we should continue as a Nation.
  But I think when we look at those who give the ultimate sacrifice, 
sometimes we give the medals and we show sympathy and appreciation to 
the families, and then after a while, we forget that. I know in every 
courthouse and every city hall there are monuments that have the names 
of those who have given their lives for this country and paid the 
ultimate sacrifice.
  On Memorial Day we visit and Veterans Day we visit, perhaps some 
special days like 9/11 we again remember and we visit those who have 
their names engraved on the markings and on the monuments in our 
courthouses and city halls throughout this country.

                              {time}  1945

  But I believe that just those two or three special occasions are not 
enough.
  And, Mr. Speaker, I didn't realize how little we were showing 
appreciation for those who gave the ultimate sacrifice until my very 
first visit in early 2004 to Iraq. We had just traveled from one part 
of Iraq, flying back into Baghdad in a C-130. And before we boarded the 
plane, there was an escort detail. And we noticed that there was a 
casket, a flag-draped casket. A very solemn occasion as you looked at 
the lines of the young men and women who were saying farewell to the 
one who had given his life. And they placed that in that cargo bay off 
the C-130. Those of us who were Members of Congress sat more to the 
front--those who have traveled obviously know that we ride the jump 
seats as we go in and out into Iraq or Afghanistan.
  And for some reason, when I looked in the faces of those young men 
who were the escorts, the solemn faces, the faces who weren't looking 
to anyone, I don't think, for sympathy, but just understanding, for me, 
on that occasion, I said, I don't think we do enough. And in 2004, I 
introduced this bill, the same one that's here today, to where we can 
at least once a month--12 times a year, plus the other occasions--say 
thank you to the mothers and fathers, to the brothers and sisters of 
the one who gave his life, and to the one who gave his life, that 
America still cherishes, respects, loves and remembers the sacrifice 
that you gave to this Nation.
  So for me, it is my hope that this bill passes unanimously, and that 
we honor those who have given their life for this great Nation of ours.
  Mr. McCARTHY of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of 
my time.
  Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman 
bringing this legislation forward.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I stand today in support of H. 
Con. Res. 61, ``Expressing the sense of the Congress that the United 
States flag flown over the United States Capitol should be lowered to 
half-mast one day each month in honor of the brave men and women from 
the United States who have lost their lives in military conflicts.'' 
The brave men and women who have sacrificed their lives to protect not 
only the lives of Americans but democracy around the world, warrant a 
day each month in which the Nation honors their service and sacrifice.
  More than 1 million brave men and women from the United States have 
died in military conflicts since the birth of our great Nation. It is 
the right of the American people to mourn the loss of the brave men and 
women who have given their lives for this country. All Americans must 
remember that our freedom has not come without sacrifice. The heroic 
men and women who have given the ultimate sacrifice, to protect our 
Nation and our freedom must be honored and recognized. As Gertrude 
Stein put it so eloquently, ``Silent gratitude isn't very much use to 
anyone.''
  Paying tribute to the fearlessness and courageousness that the men 
and women from the United States have displayed throughout history, 
demonstrates the spirit of patriotism that is the foundation of our 
great country.
  H. Con. Res. 61 must be supported by the Members of Congress in order 
for us and all Americans to pay homage and show our respect for those 
extraordinary soldiers who are no longer with us, but whose legacies 
should live on. In honoring those who have fought for our country from 
the time of its conception would be a grand opportunity to show the men 
and women wearing the uniform today that their service is not in vain. 
It is an opportunity for America to demonstrate the magnitude of 
appreciation that we hold in our hearts for the service and bravery of 
all our veterans. A simple gesture can demonstrate the immeasurable 
amount of gratitude which emanates through us all.
  The State of Texas alone is home to approximately 1,707,365 veterans. 
H. Con. Res. 61 commemorates not only the valuable contribution of 
heroes past but to our present champions of freedom and democracy. I am 
reminded of something once said by author Melodie Beattie, ``Gratitude 
unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and 
more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into 
clarity . . . it turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the 
unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. 
Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a 
vision for tomorrow.''

[[Page H8377]]

  Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time and I urge passage of the legislation.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Davis) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 61.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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