[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 152 (Wednesday, September 24, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S9389]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING RALPH ROSE

  Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, I would like to take a moment to 
recognize one of our Nation's heroes from World War II. I am proud to 
say that he is a resident of my home State of Kentucky. His name is 
Ralph Rose. Mr. Rose is being honored in a Veterans Day ceremony in 
Hardinsburg, KY, this November for his heroic action in defense of our 
Nation and for his continued service to veterans in the local 
community.
  Mr. Rose was born in Mystic, KY, in 1922. He entered the U.S. 
military at age 20. During his time in the Armed Forces, Mr. Rose 
served in General Patton's Army and fought the Germans in France. But 
on a fateful night, Mr. Rose and several of his fellow soldiers were 
captured by Axis forces. He was held as a prisoner of war for more than 
8 months until the Allies occupied Munich.
  Mr. Rose suffered unimaginable hardships at the hands of the enemy, 
but by all accounts, he does not dwell on them. In fact, he has said 
that if given the choice to serve in the Army again--even knowing what 
he would have to endure as a prisoner of war--he would have done the 
same thing.
  As a true testament to his dedication to the Armed Forces, Mr. Rose 
continues to serve his country by helping and inspiring other veterans 
in the Commonwealth.
  There is a special flag that honors our American heroes like Mr. 
Rose. It is called the Prisoner of War/Missing in Action flag, and it 
has a simple statement at the bottom: ``You are not forgotten.'' Just 
as surely as that flag sits outside my office each day, I can guarantee 
you that those whose lives have been touched by Mr. Rose will never 
forget the sacrifices he made to keep our Nation free and prosperous.

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