[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 73 (Wednesday, May 13, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H5530-H5531]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      RECOGNIZING ARMED FORCES DAY

  Mr. MASSA. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 377) recognizing Armed Forces Day and the 
exemplary service of the members of the United States Armed Forces.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 377

       Whereas Armed Forces Day was created in 1949 in connection 
     with the consolidation of the military services in the 
     Department of Defense;
       Whereas the purpose of Armed Forces Day is to honor the men 
     and women who are serving in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, 
     Air Force, and Coast Guard, including the National Guard and 
     Reserve components;
       Whereas Armed Forces Day is celebrated on the third 
     Saturday in May, which this year is May 16, 2009;
       Whereas members of the Armed Forces have performed 
     tremendous service on behalf of the United States;
       Whereas members of the Armed Forces have been killed and 
     injured in operations to bring peace and stability in the 
     name of democracy; and
       Whereas all Americans express their recognition and 
     gratitude for members of the Armed Forces at home and abroad: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives, on the 
     occasion of Armed Forces Day 2009--
       (1) honors and recognizes the service and sacrifice that 
     members of the Armed Forces and their families gave, and 
     continue to give, to the United States;
       (2) remains committed to supporting the members of the 
     Armed Forces and their families;
       (3) encourages Americans to show their support and 
     appreciation for members of the Armed Forces on Armed Forces 
     Day;
       (4) commends the actions of private citizens and 
     organizations who volunteer to support America's wounded 
     warriors; and
       (5) expresses the gratitude of the American people to the 
     members of the Armed Forces for their service on behalf of 
     the United States.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Massa) and the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Fleming), each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Mr. MASSA. I ask unanimous consent that all Members 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 New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. MASSA. I yield myself as much time as I might consume. Madam 
Speaker, Armed Forces Day was established to recognize the men and 
women serving in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast 
Guard. I rise today to urge my colleagues to support House Resolution 
377, honoring the exemplary service of the men and women of the United 
States Armed Forces.
  The armed services have performed with dedication and bravery on 
behalf of the United States of America, and they have been killed or 
injured in conflicts and operations around the world in order to bring 
peace and stability in the name of democracy. Armed Forces Day 
recognizes the sacrifices that the Armed Forces and their families have 
given and continue to give to the United States of America.
  This resolution shows that the House of Representatives remains 
committed to supporting the members of the Armed Forces and their 
families. It encourages all Americans to show their support and 
appreciation for the brave Americans and their families. We also 
commend those citizens whose organizations volunteer to support our 
servicemembers and their families at home and abroad.
  Those who wear the uniform of our military services deserve our honor 
and great respect. Armed Forces Day is an opportunity for all other 
Americans to display their pride and appreciation for this noble and 
selfless service. So I now call upon Members of this great House to 
join me in supporting this resolution, thereby expressing our common 
pride and regard for our military on behalf of a grateful Nation.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FLEMING. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 377, which 
recognizes Armed Forces Day, May 16, and the exemplary service of the 
members of the armed services. I want to commend my colleagues, 
Congressmen Ken Calvert and Neil Abercrombie, for sponsoring it.
  Today we are a Nation at war, with more than 2,750,000 men and women 
in uniform and more than 270,000 deployed worldwide. The men and women 
of today's armed services are all volunteers and have willingly, 
professionally, competently and unselfishly met every challenge this 
Nation has presented to them. In meeting those challenges, many have 
died and more have been wounded and injured.
  These magnificent men and women come not only from the active 
components of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard, 
but also from our hometown communities as members of the National Guard 
and the other Reserve components. Their commitment to this Nation and 
to their services can be measured in many ways. But I believe there is 
no better evidence of their patriotism and commitment to the defense of 
America than their astounding willingness to re-enlist and continue 
serving. Today, such re-enlistment decisions are made with the 
knowledge that it will mean repeat tours of duty in war zones where 
death and injury are potential outcomes.
  Nevertheless, the most re-enlistment data continues a trend that has 
existed since September 11, 2001. For example, as of the end of March 
this year, Army re-enlistments for this year ranged from 111 percent to 
114 percent of goal. Marine Corps and re-enlistments range from 197 
percent to 204 percent of goal.
  When Armed Forces Day was created in 1949, its purpose was to 
establish a time when all Americans could reflect on and honor the 
service of the men and women of the Armed Forces. This week, Armed 
Forces Day will be celebrated on May 16. On that day, I would urge my 
colleagues to reflect on the extraordinary service rendered not only by 
those who have previously served, but also of those who now are 
committed to making this Nation safe. On that day and every day, I 
would also urge my colleagues to take the time to individually thank 
every previous and current member of the armed services they encounter 
for their service.
  I heartily recommended that all my colleagues vote ``yes'' on this 
resolution.
  Mr. MASSA. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FLEMING. Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize Mr. Calvert of 
California for such time as he may consume.
  Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 377, 
which honors and recognizes Armed Forces Day on May 16. Over the course 
of our Nation's history, generations of Americans have made tremendous 
sacrifices to protect the freedoms we hold dear. And we honor these 
courageous Americans on Armed Forces Day and throughout the month of 
May.
  Armed Forces Day is an opportunity to recognize our troops and their 
families, as well as rededicate ourselves to the promises our Nation 
has made to repay their service and sacrifice. When we make our 
promises to our troops, we must keep them, for they most certainly have 
kept their commitment to the American people.
  Madam Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support H. Res. 377 and to 
declare to all U.S. servicemembers that we stand with them. When the 
call of duty sounded, they did not hesitate to answer. Let us not 
hesitate in our support of all those brave men and women of the United 
States Armed Forces.

                              {time}  1615

  Mr. FLEMING. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

[[Page H5531]]

  Mr. MASSA. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, it is with a particular honor that I have been asked 
to rise to introduce this legislation, remembering in my own life story 
the excitement of a 17-year-old young man as that individual entered 
the United States Naval Academy; and reflecting upon a, frankly, long, 
30-year journey that has brought me here today in this great House to 
call upon my fellow colleagues to join me in recognizing the millions 
of Americans who have now followed the veterans who have joined me now 
out of the armed services. It is right and just as a son of a military 
member, as the brother of a military member, as the colleague of so 
many veterans of this great body, it fills me with emotion and clarity 
of eye and thought to imagine that that 17-year-old young man could 
journey so far as to be here today to call upon all Americans to honor 
all those in service and in uniform around the world. It is a 
tremendous honor to bring this resolution to the floor of the House of 
Representatives. I close my remarks on that note.
  Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, the 34th President of the United 
States, Dwight Eisenhower, said that ``it is fitting and proper that we 
devote one day each year to pay special tribute to those whose 
constancy and courage constitute one of the bulwarks guarding the 
freedom of this nation and the peace of the free world.''
  I agree, Madam Speaker, and I am proud to be a cosponsor of this 
resolution.
  Fifty-nine years ago we began the tradition of honoring the Armed 
Forces on the third Saturday of May as the national Armed Forces Day.
  Before 1950 there were individual holidays in honor of each of the 
five branches of the military--Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and 
Coast Guard.
  President Truman established this single holiday to honor the 
servicemembers of all branches as an act of unity after the Department 
of Defense was created.
  There are several purposes for celebrating Armed Forces Day--
educating the public on the jobs and role of the military, exhibiting 
the military's state of the art equipment, and most importantly for 
acknowledging the people who serve our country in the Armed Forces.
  Today 1.5 million people are on active duty in the U.S. military. In 
addition, 850,000 men and women serve in the seven reserve and guard 
divisions--Army National Guard, Army Reserve, Marine Forces Reserve, 
Navy Reserve, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve, and Coast Guard 
Reserve.
  These brave folks serve our country all over the world at 820 
different military installations.
  About 140,000 servicemembers are stationed in Iraq and 56,000 are in 
Afghanistan.
  This special day is celebrated every year with parades, military 
reenactments, air shows, and open houses at military bases.
  The theme for this year's Armed Forces Day is ``United in Strength.''
  United indeed, Madam Speaker. ``From this day to the ending of the 
world, we in it shall be remembered. We few, we happy few, we band of 
brothers; for he today that sheds his blood with me shall be my 
brother.''
  Shakespeare penned this quote in Henry V. It represents the unfailing 
commitment and spirit of unity a military member has with his fellow 
warriors.
  I am a very proud cosponsor of this measure and urge all Americans to 
offer their thanks to our military members who boldly defend our 
democratic freedoms at home and abroad.
  And that's just the way it is.
  Mr. MASSA. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Massa) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 377.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. FLEMING. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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