[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 77 (Tuesday, May 19, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H5726-H5728]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   URGING ALL AMERICANS AND PEOPLE OF ALL NATIONALITIES TO VISIT THE 
      NATIONAL CEMETERIES, MEMORIALS, AND MARKERS ON MEMORIAL DAY

  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 360) urging all Americans and people of all 
nationalities to visit the national cemeteries, memorials, and markers 
on Memorial Day.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 360

       Whereas the United States has fought in wars outside and 
     inside of its borders to restore freedom and human dignity;
       Whereas the United States has spent its national treasure 
     and shed its blood in fighting those wars;
       Whereas the National Cemetery Administration of the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs maintains 128 national 
     cemeteries that serve as the final resting place for nearly 
     3,000,000 veterans and their dependents;
       Whereas each year, millions of Americans visit the national 
     cemeteries, memorials, and markers;
       Whereas overseas sites annually recognize Memorial Day with 
     speeches, a reading of the Memorial Day Proclamation, wreath 
     laying ceremonies, military bands and units, and the 
     decoration of each grave site with the flag of the United 
     States and that of the host country; and
       Whereas these splendid commemorative sites inspire 
     patriotism, evoke gratitude, and teach history: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives strongly urges 
     Americans and people of all nationalities to visit national 
     cemeteries, memorials, and markers on Memorial Day, where the 
     spirit of American generosity, sacrifice, and courage are 
     displayed and commemorated.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Filner) and the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Boozman) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
  Mr. FILNER. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I yield myself as much time as I 
may consume
  I think it is only appropriate, Mr. Speaker, that we bring this 
resolution to the floor as we approach Memorial Day. The resolution 
encourages people to visit the cemeteries, memorials, and markers 
overseen by the American Battle Monuments Commission. Now, that is a 
commission that I am sure many people have not heard of.
  What is the American Battle Monuments Commission, and what do they

[[Page H5727]]

do? Back in 1923, Congress created this commission to control the 
construction of military cemeteries, monuments, and markers erected to 
honor American servicemembers killed on foreign soil. Host countries 
provide the necessary lands for the sites to the United States in 
perpetuity and free of charge.
  The commission cares for 24 military cemeteries, 25 memorials, 
monuments and markers in 15 countries around the world. These sites 
serve as the final resting place for almost 125,000 Americans who 
fought in the Mexican-American War, World War I and World War II. The 
commission takes special care that all cemeteries under its supervision 
are maintained to the highest standard attainable. The commission 
extends an open invitation for all to visit these magnificent shrines 
and to go beyond the most well known, like Normandy, and venture into 
others.
  Each site has its own sense of history, sacrifice and beauty, and 
each offers a unique experience. For example, no two have the same 
guard nor architecture. Perhaps only the spiritual qualities are 
similar. In less than a month from now, on June 6, the commission will 
commemorate the 63rd anniversary of the D-day landing by opening a new 
Normandy-American cemetery visitors center. This center, which has been 
under construction since 2002, will tell the story of the American 
soldiers memorialized at Normandy.
  I encourage all to visit this new D-day center and any of the sites 
under the jurisdiction of the commission. Overseas cemeteries are the 
lasting reminders of America's willingness to come to the defense of 
others. These tangible symbols of American values endure long after the 
fighting is over.
  Mr. Speaker, I would reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 360 
urging all Americans and people of all nationalities to visit the 
national cemeteries, memorials and markers on Memorial Day. This 
legislation was sponsored by our colleague from Tennessee and a new and 
very active member of the Veterans Affairs' Committee, Congressman 
David Roe, on April 23, 2009, and we all appreciate him bringing this 
forward.
  Mr. Speaker, properly honoring a veteran's memory is one of our most 
solemn obligations. These patriots are due the final tribute of a 
grateful Nation. Here in the U.S., the National Cemetery Administration 
of the Department of Veterans Affairs cares for 128 national cemeteries 
that serve as the final resting place for over three million of our 
Nation's veterans and their dependents. The National Park Service cares 
for 14 veterans' cemeteries as well.
  But it's not just here in the United States that our fallen are 
honored. The overseas national cemeteries of the American Battle 
Monuments Commission provide our Nation's heroes an honored repose in 
national shrines far from the homes they left in order to protect 
democracy. These overseas cemeteries have become the gold standard in 
memorializing the precious gift to us by those who fell in our defense.

                              {time}  1300

  The commission oversees 24 overseas military cemeteries that serve as 
resting places for almost 125,000 American war dead. Tablets of the 
missing memorialize more than 94,000 U.S. servicemen and -women as well 
as 25 memorials, monuments and markers.
  These memorials and cemeteries are mute testimony to the sacrifices 
of Americans who fought in battles across the globe such as Flanders 
Field, Belgium; Manila, Philippines; North Africa, Tunisia; Sicily-
Rome, Italy; Corozal, Panama; Lorraine, France; Mexico City, Mexico; 
and Normandy, France.
  Mr. Speaker, with Memorial Day less than a week away, this is a most 
fitting time to consider this resolution. I ask all my colleagues to 
support it, and I look forward to its passage.
  With that, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FILNER. I continue to reserve.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he would require to 
the author of the resolution, the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Roe).
  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House 
Resolution 360, urging all Americans and people of all nationalities to 
visit the national cemeteries, memorials, and markers this Memorial 
Day.
  Following a tradition begun in 1868, our Nation will pause this 
Monday in remembrance of those who have sacrificed their lives in 
defense of our free Republic. Fond mourners and friends will set 
flowers and flags on the graves of the fallen. Our flag, flown at half 
staff since sunrise, will at noon be raised high and those gathered 
will be called to pledge allegiance. A bugle will sound Taps, and we 
will make another pledge: to aid the widows, widowers, and orphans of 
our heroic dead, and our disabled veterans.
  There is no central location for this observance. Our servicemembers' 
final resting places are in all our towns and communities. The National 
Cemetery Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs maintains 
128 national cemeteries in 39 States and Puerto Rico. One of those 
cemeteries is in my hometown of Johnson City, Tennessee. The Department 
of the Army maintains Arlington National Cemetery and the U.S. 
Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National Cemetery.
  Americans have died defending liberty around the globe and have been 
laid to rest far from home. The American Battle Monuments Commission 
oversees 24 military cemeteries abroad where 125,000 of our war dead 
remain.
  The freedoms we enjoy today, the freedoms enjoyed by a civilized 
Europe, and those free from despots rising to national power are the 
proof these men and women did not die in vain. This sacrifice should be 
celebrated, and never forgotten.
  Not all who serve perish fulfilling their duty. They return to us as 
veterans and deserve our thanks and a commitment to serve them. We 
erect monuments and markers and make pilgrimages there to honor them.
  That is this resolution's call. Congress should urge Americans to 
visit these cemeteries, these monuments and memorials, and I as a 
veteran encourage my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mr. FILNER. Does the gentleman have further speakers?
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Yes, I have two more.
  Mr. FILNER. I think this may be the first time in American history 
that a Roe is followed by a Poe, but that's just the way it is. I would 
reserve the balance of our time.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe).
  Mr. POE of Texas. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, it's been said, ``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 these words in Henry V, describing the 
commitment of a soldier to his fellow soldiers.
  I rise today in support of H. Res. 360 which calls on all Americans 
to honor our veterans by visiting memorials and national cemeteries on 
Memorial Day. I am proud to cosponsor this very important legislation.
  Since 2004, 26 men and women from the Second Congressional District 
area of Texas have served honorably and given their lives for the cause 
of freedom in Iraq and Afghanistan. Every time a brave member of 
America's military from my area dies for this country, I come down to 
this House floor, and I talk about their lives, their legacy, their 
family, and those others that they have left behind.
  Every year, millions of Americans visit the national cemeteries and 
the memorials and the war markers all over the United States to 
remember the men and women who have so courageously fought to defend 
America's freedom.
  Mr. Speaker, in a land far, far away, there are over 9,000 Americans 
buried in a place called Normandy in France, most of them young teenage 
boys that left America and went off to war to defend our country. They 
shed their blood in 1944 for not only us but for those folks in Europe. 
My father who served in the great World War II as an 18-year-old never 
talked about his service in Europe until he and Mom visited Normandy 
and its cemetery 50 years after that important event. He, like many 
other veterans, is proud to have

[[Page H5728]]

served but keeps saying that the heroes are still buried in places 
throughout the world.
  Each Memorial Day all across America, parades are held, wreaths are 
laid, grave sites are decorated as a tribute to our fallen warriors. On 
Veterans Day, we remember those who fought and came home, but on 
Memorial Day, we remember those who fought and did not come home.
  The Department of Veterans Affairs preserves 128 cemeteries all over 
the world that are the final resting place for over 3 million 
Americans. These national cemeteries and memorials remind us of the 
warriors who have fought and gave all to protect the rest of us. When 
called, they went.
  I am pleased to support this legislation and urge all Members to 
approve this resolution.
  As Toby Keith so eloquently put it in his tribute to the American 
soldiers, he said about the American soldier: ``I don't do it for 
money, there's bills that I can't pay. I don't do it for the glory, I 
just do it anyway. I'm an American soldier, an American beside my 
brothers and sisters, I will proudly take a stand. When liberty's in 
jeopardy I will always do what's right. I'm out here on the front 
lines, so sleep in peace tonight. I'm an American soldier.''
  These warriors, Mr. Speaker, are our sons of liberty and the 
daughters of democracy. They are our heroes, and they need to be 
honored and remembered by the rest of us for all time.
  And that's just the way it is.
  Mr. FILNER. I continue to reserve.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, that was my last speaker on the subject.
  I want to thank Mr. Roe of Tennessee for bringing this forward in a 
very timely way and such an important message that we remember those 
that have sacrificed so much for all of us.
  I want to thank Committee Chairman Bob Filner and Ranking Member 
Steve Buyer for allowing us to go forward with the bill, and certainly 
I want to urge all of my colleagues to support H. Res. 360.
  And with that, having no further speakers, I yield back the balance 
of my time.


                             General Leave

  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on House Resolution 360.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, the United States has fought wars throughout 
our history to restore both freedom and dignity inside of its own 
borders, as well as around the world. We have shed our blood and spent 
our national treasure fighting these wars. On Memorial Day, the Nation 
is reminded of the phrase spoken constantly, that freedom is not free.
  These wonderful commemorative sites that we spoke of today inspire 
patriotism, invoke gratitude, serve as a permanent and lasting reminder 
of the sacrifices made by the men and women of the United States 
military. They are reminders of America's willingness to come to the 
defense of others, to protect the freedom and liberty of its people, 
and ensure the prosperity of our Republic.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to unanimously support House 
Resolution 360.
  Mr. SALAZAR, Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 360, a 
bill encouraging all Americans to honor our veterans by visiting 
national cemeteries and memorials this Memorial Day.
  Since 1862, more than three million burials have been made in VA 
national cemeteries.
  National cemeteries are the testimony of a grateful nation to 
appropriately commemorate the Americans who have served our nation in 
the armed forces.
  My home state of Colorado has a population of over 427,000 veterans.
  I am proud to represent a district that is home to almost 70,000 
veterans.
  As a veteran myself, I know how much of an honor it was to serve my 
country during the Vietnam era.
  My father, Henry Salazar, was a staff sergeant in the Army during 
World War II.
  Two years after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's, my father came down 
to breakfast one morning and told us that he wanted to be buried in his 
uniform.
  As I held my father just before he passed away he told me that he 
loved me and his last word was ``Uniform.''
  Throughout the four years that my father lived with Alzheimer's, the 
two things he never forgot were how much he loved his family and how 
proud he was to serve his country.
  It is this dedication to duty and unyielding commitment that have 
ensured our freedom and our way of life even in our nation's most 
troubled times.
  The courage and sacrifices of our veterans set a necessary example to 
our youth and all Americans.
  Their stories are important chapters in the history of our nation.
  That is why I am working with members of the Colorado delegation to 
bring a national veterans cemetery to southern Colorado.
  Current standards place many VA cemeteries closer to large 
metropolitan areas.
  This is an issue that is faced by veterans in small and rural 
communities similar to those in the Third Congressional District of 
Colorado.
  I look forward to continue working on issues that improve the lives 
of our veterans and honor their service.
  Mr. FILNER. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Filner) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 360.
  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. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. 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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