[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 58 (Thursday, April 22, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E629]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     THE CONGRESSIONAL YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL: A LEGACY OF SERVICE

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                            HON. SAM JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 22, 2010

  Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I ask my fellow colleagues 
to join me in congratulating the 2009-2010 Congressional Youth Advisory 
Council. This year 45 students from public, private, and home schools 
in grades 9 through 12 made their voices heard and made a difference in 
their communities, their country and their Congress. These students 
volunteered their time, effort, and talent to inform me about the 
important issues facing their generation. As young leaders within their 
communities and their schools, these students boldly represent the 
promise and the hope we all have for their very bright future.
  President Ronald Reagan said, ``Freedom is never more than one 
generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in 
the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for 
them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling 
our children and our children's children what it was once like in the 
United States where men were free.''
  To ensure that the blessing of freedom is passed from one generation 
to the next, the members of the CYAC spent time interviewing a veteran 
and documenting the experience for the ``Preserving History Project.'' 
Today I'm proud to submit the brief summaries provided so the patriotic 
service of our dedicated veterans and the thoughtful work of the CYAC 
may be preserved for antiquity in the Congressional Record. A copy of 
each submitted student summary follows.
  To each member of the Congressional Youth Advisory Council, thank you 
for making this year and this group a success. It is not a coincidence 
that this congressional tribute celebrates two generations of service. 
Each of you is trusted with the precious gift of freedom.
  You are the voices of the future and I salute you. God bless you and 
God bless America.
  The summary follows:

       Robert James is a veteran of World War II. He entered the 
     war in the Medical Corps and returned from war as a private 
     first class in the Air Force. After graduating from U.T., Mr. 
     James stayed in the Air Force Reserve for 30 years and 
     retired as a Major. He still regularly visits a nearby base 
     in Colorado, where he buys his groceries, works out, and 
     shops for other needs. Robert James received multiple awards 
     after returning home, including an Air Medal and a 
     Distinguished Flying Cross. Mr. James' story should be 
     preserved throughout history in addition to the thousands of 
     other veterans that risked their lives for the safety of the 
     United States. This interview with my grandfather was very 
     moving and I gained a lot more insight and detail than I ever 
     had before. I am happy to have been able to discuss such a 
     pivotal time in my grandfather's life and I hope my essay 
     helps to somehow preserve some of his unique experiences so 
     that they can last throughout generations of Americans. The 
     conservation of the stories of our many veterans is very 
     crucial and should be a goal of every American that has been 
     kept alive by these honorable, selfless men and women.--
     Rebecca James

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