[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 150 (Friday, October 16, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2570]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 EXTENDING AUTHORITY TO BUILD VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL VISITOR CENTER

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. PHIL GINGREY

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 13, 2009

  Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my 
support for H.R. 3689, a bill to provide for an extension of the 
legislative authority of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Inc. to 
establish a Vietnam Veterans Memorial visitor center.
  The Vietnam Veterans Memorial visitor center will pay a further 
tribute to the men and women who defended our nation's freedom by 
serving in the United States Armed Forces during the Vietnam War. 
Currently, there are three other monuments that mark the sacrifice paid 
by these brave individuals on the National Mall. They are the Three 
Soldiers statue, the Vietnam Women's memorial, and the Vietnam Veterans 
Memorial Wall. Just last year, there were over 3.8 million visitors to 
these memorials, and I believe that constructing a visitor center to 
facilitate their passion for our veterans is a noble cause.
  The visitor center will become one of the largest war memorials in 
Washington, DC at 25,000 square feet. It will be built underground in 
front of the Lincoln Memorial and may include a movie theater, a three-
dimensional battle scene, mementos left at the memorial, and a wall 
where pictures of slain soldiers will be displayed on their birthdays. 
The center will surely prove to be a fantastic tribute to the service 
and sacrifices made by veterans of the Vietnam War and their families.
  Mr. Speaker, I believe that the brave men and women who have 
sacrificed for our present freedoms deserve our fullest support. Our 
nation's service men and women represent the best our country has to 
offer, and they must be treated with the respect and honor they 
deserve. As we ask these courageous soldiers, sailors, airmen, and 
marines--and their families--to do more and more, it's only right we 
continue doing all we can for them. Creating the Vietnam Veterans 
Memorial visitor center is another act of appreciation for our veterans 
and a reminder of the superior job our troops perform for America at 
home and abroad. It is my hope that we will continue to do all we can 
and more for the members of our Armed Forces.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill.