[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 45 (Tuesday, March 23, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H2243-H2244]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1700
                  HONORING KEN BROWN--``MR. VETERAN''

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Titus) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. TITUS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Ken Finis Brown, 
affectionately known throughout Nevada as ``Mr. Veteran.''
  As my colleague Shelley Berkley pointed out just a few moments ago, 
Mr. Brown was instrumental in providing a final sacred resting place 
for Nevada's veterans in 1987 when he donated the necessary funding for 
the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery. Mr. Brown personally 
donated the funding to purchase 83.5 acres of land in Boulder City in 
District Three that now serves as a cemetery for Nevada's fallen 
heroes. Our Mr. Veteran worked tirelessly so that military veterans in 
southern Nevada would have a dignified final resting place in our home 
State, close to their loved ones.
  This unyielding effort was formally recognized by the State of Nevada 
when it declared April 6, 1990, ``Ken Brown Day.'' On that same day, 
the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery was officially 
dedicated. Everyone in southern Nevada knows that this project would 
never have been completed without the hard work and dedication of Ken 
Brown.
  This was just one of many awards and commendations that our Mr. 
Veteran has received, including a proclamation of heroism from Clark 
County,

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a God and Country award from the U.S. Navy Armed Guard, a formal 
proclamation from the Las Vegas City Council and keys to the city, and 
a Certificate of Recognition and Appreciation from the Veterans of 
Foreign Wars Political Action Committee. His efforts have been 
recognized, both formally and informally, by countless organizations 
and individuals, too many to list here.
  Mr. Brown served our country admirably in the United States Navy 
during World War II while our Nation was fighting to rid the world of 
tyranny and hatred. At a time when our Nation needed heroes, Ken Brown 
stepped up. He answered the call.
  Since his service in our Nation's armed services, Ken has dedicated 
his life to improving the lives of other veterans in southern Nevada 
through his advocacy and his own example.
  Mr. Brown has also written a poem which was dedicated to our Afghan 
and Iraq veterans, U.S. Navy Armed Guard, and the U.S. Merchant 
Marines. The words of his work ring true today as our brave men and 
women serve valiantly throughout the world to protect our Nation.

                                  Life

       Dedicated to Afghan and Iraq Veterans and United States 
     Navy Armed Guard

     United States Merchant Marines, 36,000 died in WWII
       For love and money, our lives we pay, Baubles we earn with 
     a whole soul's tasking; Tis heaven alone that is given away, 
     Tis only God may be had for the asking; No price set on the 
     lavish summer, And June may be had by the poorest comer.

       Whether we look, or whether we listen, We hear life murmur, 
     or see it glisten; Every clod feels a stir of might, An 
     instinct within it that reaches and towers, And, grasping 
     blindly above it for light, Climbs to a soul in grass and 
     flowers.

       Now the heart is so full that a drop overfills, We are 
     happy now because God so wills it; We may shut our eyes, but 
     we cannot help knowing That the sky is clear and the grass is 
     growing.

       Joy comes, grief goes, we know not how; Every thing is 
     happy now, Every thing is upward striving Tis as easy now for 
     the heart to be true As for grass to be green or skies to be 
     blue,--Tis the Natural way of living.

       We must always remember that life is precious and the 
     veterans of the great national paid with their lives for your 
     freedom.

  Madam Speaker, today we flew a flag over the Capitol in honor of Ken 
Brown. I want to thank Mr. Brown again for his lifetime of dedication 
to the United States of America and to our heroes, our men and women in 
the armed services.

                          ____________________