[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 59 (Monday, April 26, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E651]
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

                         Monday, April 26, 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:
       I interviewed Robert Nelson McClelland, M.D. a veteran of 
     the United States Air Force. He entered the armed forces as a 
     First Lieutenant and was discharged with honor as a Captain. 
     Dr. McClelland not only served as a physician in the United 
     States Air Force, stationed in Germany for two years, but he 
     also contributed a tremendous amount of time and effort into 
     career as a doctor at Parkland Memorial Hospital. In fact, he 
     was on a team of doctors who operated on President John F. 
     Kennedy when he was assassinated at Dealy Plaza in Dallas, 
     Texas and was taken to Parkland Memorial Hospital 
     immediately. Dr. McClelland was, at the time, showing a group 
     of students and residents a film on surgery techniques when 
     he accompanied Dr. Crenshaw to Trauma Room One, where 
     President Kennedy lay unconscious, hooked to a respiratory 
     machine. Through this experience, I learned that I take for 
     granted the freedoms that I have today that were given to me. 
     These same freedoms that I worked nothing for are and were 
     the same freedoms countless soldiers from the United States 
     armed forces selflessly fought for. Furthermore, I have 
     gained a novel respect for physicians, such as Dr. McClelland 
     himself who make it their job to save lives.--Eann Tuan

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