[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 60 (Tuesday, April 27, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E677]
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

                        Tuesday, April 27, 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 tithe 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:

       Mr. Marcus Poe is a combat veteran of World War II. He was 
     born in rural Oklahoma. At the time of his enlistment, he was 
     married with two children (Mark and Marcia), and was 
     attending Tulsa Business College, majoring in secretary and 
     accounting. He served for 22 months, from 1944 to 1945. He 
     was in the United States Air Force and was a nose gunner on a 
     B-24 fighter plane. Beginning at the rank of private, he 
     eventually became a sergeant. He served in the 436th unit 
     bomb group in the 15th Air Force. He received basic training 
     in multiple states, such as Oklahoma and Texas. Afterwards, 
     he was stationed in Cerignola, Italy, where he flew missions 
     every third day. He had confirmed hits and was never shot 
     down. He returned home on November 3, 1945, a few months 
     after the atomic bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima that 
     resulted in VJ Day. He moved to Texas in 1970 to be with his 
     son Marcus, and retired in July of 1987, having never been 
     unemployed for a day in his life. He is now 89 years old, and 
     still goes about his daily lifestyle with ease.--Yu-Chun Lin

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