[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 177 (Wednesday, December 2, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H13397-H13398]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       RECOGNIZING IMPORTANCE OF TEACHING STUDENTS ABOUT VETERANS

  Mr. BISHOP of New York. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 897) recognizing the importance of 
teaching elementary and secondary school students about the sacrifices 
that veterans have made throughout the history of the Nation.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 897

       Whereas veterans have made innumerable sacrifices for the 
     freedom and welfare of the United States and people 
     worldwide;
       Whereas in 2008 there were over 23,000,000 veterans in the 
     United States, but many elementary and secondary school 
     students are not aware of the efforts veterans have made to 
     protect our freedoms;
       Whereas many elementary and secondary schools and teachers 
     have held drives in recent years to collect items to send to 
     veterans, members of the Armed Forces, and families of such 
     members;
       Whereas fewer than half of the Nation's high school seniors 
     have a basic knowledge of American history and the 
     contributions veterans have made to the Nation's safety and 
     security;
       Whereas it is important for elementary and secondary school 
     students to learn about the history of the Nation and the 
     wars and missions veterans have participated in and 
     sacrificed for; and
       Whereas elementary and secondary schools across the Nation 
     host Veterans Day programs to honor and educate students 
     about the sacrifices veterans have made: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) recognizes the importance of teaching elementary and 
     secondary school students, on Veterans Day and throughout the 
     school year, about the sacrifices that veterans have made 
     throughout the history of the Nation; and
       (2) encourages elementary and secondary schools to engage 
     students in learning about, and honoring, veterans and the 
     sacrifices they have made.

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. BISHOP of New York. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent for 5 
legislative days during which Members may revise and extend their 
remarks on H. Res. 897.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BISHOP of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 
897, and I thank my friend and colleague from Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie) 
for offering this legislation. This resolution recognizes the 
importance of teaching elementary and secondary school students about 
the sacrifices veterans have made throughout our Nation's history.
  Our country is built on the backbone of men and women who served in 
our Nation's military forces. Veterans from all across the Nation 
sacrifice their time, energy, and lives for freedoms that we sometimes 
take for granted. In 2008, there were over 23 million veterans in the 
United States, but much of our Nation's youth do not fully comprehend 
the commitment our soldiers undergo on a daily basis. Many times, 
veterans leave combat and reintegrate into society with extreme 
challenges: post-traumatic stress disorder, alcoholism, drug abuse, and 
homelessness are just some of the afflictions our dear veterans face. 
However, there are a number of dedicated organizations that cater and 
focus direct attention to the needs of our veterans.
  Last month, we commemorated our veterans on November 11 with Veterans 
Day. We remembered heroes for their fearlessness, their loyalty, and 
their dedication. Their selfless sacrifices continue to inspire us 
today as we work to advance peace and extend freedom around the world.
  We also remember and honor those who laid down their lives in 
freedom's defense. These brave men and women made the ultimate 
sacrifice for our benefit, and our country is forever indebted to our 
veterans for their courage and exemplary service.
  But today, less than half of the Nation's high school seniors possess 
the basic knowledge of the contribution veterans have made to our 
Nation's safety and security, and because of this, I recognize the 
importance of teaching the sacrifices veterans have made for our Nation 
in the classroom.
  Madam Speaker, I again want to support this resolution and to thank 
Representative Guthrie for bringing this resolution forward. I 
encourage my colleagues to support this resolution.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 897 recognizing the 
importance of teaching elementary and secondary school students about 
the sacrifices that veterans have made throughout the history of the 
Nation. Over the recent Veterans Day holiday, I was proud to attend 
many ceremonies and parades held across my district to honor our 
veterans. Through these events, and many others, students learn the 
important role past generations played in our Nation's history. We 
watch with admiration the accomplishments of our servicemen and -women, 
both past and present. And as we come upon another holiday season, we 
are thankful for their perseverance and dedication, and are again 
reminded how important our military, their families, and veterans are 
to our Nation's history and future.
  I want to share one experience just a few weeks ago. We finished 
voting early, and I went for a walk around the Capitol on a beautiful 
fall day. As I was walking down the Mall, I walked past the World War 
II Memorial. I stood there, and there were older people looking at the 
Pacific side and the Atlantic side, and I was trying to think in my 
mind what they were thinking. Were they remembering a friend or 
colleague that didn't come back? A lot of them were sharing that 
experience with grandchildren or great-grandchildren. You could just 
see at the memorial the pride and the tears in our veterans.
  As I continued to walk, I went down to the Korean war memorial, and 
that is one that my family has personal experience with. My uncle, 12 
years before I was born, in 1952 was killed. And so my grandfather and 
grandmother always talked about the sacrifice of veterans, particularly 
losing their oldest son in the Korean war.
  Then further along the Mall there is the memorial to Abraham Lincoln 
with

[[Page H13398]]

the Gettysburg Address dedicating a cemetery to our veterans.
  And then the one that is so moving, as I was walking back, the 
Vietnam Wall. As you see families at the Vietnam Wall, a lot of them 
will take a piece of paper and pencil and will sketch out the name of 
someone. As I was watching them doing that, I was standing there 
wondering, is that a husband that didn't come home? Is that a father 
for a child they never met?
  And then I turned back to get back for an evening meeting. As you 
head to the Capitol, you understand what it is all about. The thing 
that you see most and foremost is the dome over the building in which 
we are standing. I remember walking back after having these moments 
with veterans and remembering veterans and looking at the dome all of 
the way walking back and saying, that dome is opportunity, it is 
freedom, it is hope. But not just for us; it is hope for the world. 
People look to that dome throughout the world.
  It hit me that the Mall is the story of veterans. And the reason the 
Mall is the story of veterans and memorials to veterans, this country, 
this Nation and this dome and this symbol is about freedom, and we 
wouldn't have one without the other. It was an emotional day for me as 
I was walking back.
  I have been talking to schools as I mentioned earlier during Veterans 
Day, and one of the things I talked to them about was about Francis 
Scott Key and ``The Star-Spangled Banner'' and the history and the 
actual meaning of those words in that song. I always end it with--I 
will never pretend that I can improve on Francis Scott Key, but the 
last line, It is the land of the free and the home of the brave, I 
would say we need to think it is the land of the free because of the 
brave.
  I think it is important that our students are taught, and in our home 
State of Kentucky, Veterans Day is a school day, but it is mandated 
that each school teaches about veterans by being in session on Veterans 
Day. I think it is important that we do this across this country, and I 
ask my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and so I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. BISHOP of New York. In closing, I urge my colleagues to support 
this resolution. I want to once again thank Mr. Guthrie for bringing it 
forward. I urge support of this resolution.
  Mr. SOUDER. Madam Speaker, today I rise in support of H. Res. 897 
recognizing the importance of teaching elementary and secondary school 
students about the sacrifices that veterans have made throughout the 
history of the Nation.
  While this resolution is new to the House, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, 
Holland Elementary School has made a special effort to recognize 
veterans for years. In November 2001, in response to the terrorist 
attacks on September 11, 2001, Holland Elementary School started their 
annual Veterans Day Recognition Program.
  Created by Principal Mike Caywood (a Vietnam veteran himself) and 
music teacher Jane Zweinink, the Veterans Day Recognition Program 
invites veterans to come to Holland Elementary on Veterans Day and 
share their stories with students. Principal Caywood has invited 
veterans from all over the local community and specifically veterans 
from local senior care homes. Ms. Zweinink has taught students 
patriotic songs that are performed for guests when they came to school. 
The veterans have enjoyed seeing the students perform, singing songs 
and sharing their patriotic message.
  Over the years, Holland Elementary has seen a decrease in the number 
of World War II vets attending and the Korean and Vietnam vets are 
getting older. In response, the school has proactively reached out to 
veterans from Desert Storm, Iraq and Afghanistan. They have also had an 
increase in the number of active duty soldiers participating, including 
mothers and fathers of students. Many of these veterans come from the 
school system itself. Fort Wayne Community Schools currently employs 
over 100 veterans.
  Holland Elementary's Veterans Day Recognition Program is a great 
example of how H. Res. 897 can be implemented. I want to thank Mr. 
Caywood and Ms. Zweinink for their hard work in recognizing local 
veterans and making sure elementary students understand the sacrifices 
of generations before them.
  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. Bishop) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 897.
  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. BISHOP of New York. 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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