[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 79 (Monday, May 24, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H3719-H3720]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      SALUTING SONS AND DAUGHTERS IN TOUCH ON ITS 20TH ANNIVERSARY

  Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 278) expressing the sense of 
Congress that a grateful Nation supports and salutes Sons and Daughters 
in Touch on its 20th Anniversary that is being held on Father's Day, 
2010, at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, the District of 
Columbia.
  The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
  The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 278

       Whereas there is virtue in remembering and honoring the 
     service and sacrifice of those who died or remain missing as 
     a result of the war in Southeast Asia and the families and 
     children they left behind;
       Whereas an estimated 20,000 American children lost fathers 
     in the war in Southeast Asia;
       Whereas Father's Day is a fitting day to recognize the 
     sacrifice and service of these fallen heroes and their 
     families;
       Whereas the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in the Nation's 
     capital symbolically and literally represents the men and 
     women who gave their lives in the war in Southeast Asia;
       Whereas Sons and Daughters in Touch (SDIT) is the only 
     national organization formed specifically to bring together 
     and support the children and families of these American 
     heroes;
       Whereas SDIT locates, unites, and supports sons, daughters, 
     and other family members of those who died or remain missing 
     as a result of the Vietnam War and promotes healing through 
     various outreach and education efforts;
       Whereas SDIT has held regular Father's Day gatherings for 
     the past 20 years to bring together such sons, daughters, 
     wives, and other family members in a spirit of honor, 
     remembrance, and learning;
       Whereas America's current military campaigns have produced 
     a new generation of Gold Star sons and daughters who have 
     lost parents in war;
       Whereas Sons and Daughters in Touch is in a unique position 
     to serve as an example to current and future generations of 
     Gold Star families as they bear the painful burden resulting 
     from the selfless sacrifices made by their fathers and 
     mothers in wartime service to the Nation, and SDIT can also 
     serve as a resilient example to all nations affected by war;
       Whereas Sons and Daughters in Touch will celebrate its 20th 
     anniversary, which is being held on Father's Day, 2010, at 
     the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, the District of 
     Columbia; and
       Whereas there is triumph, comfort, and honor in healing: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that a grateful 
     Nation supports and salutes Sons and Daughters in Touch on 
     its 20th Anniversary that is being held at the Vietnam 
     Veterans Memorial in Washington, the District of Columbia.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Filner) and the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Buyer) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on House Concurrent Resolution 278.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, H. Con. Res. 278 is a resolution expressing the sense 
of Congress that a grateful Nation supports and salutes the Sons and 
Daughters in Touch on its 20th anniversary being held on Father's Day 
at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.
  I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 278, a concurrent resolution 
expressing the Sense of Congress that a grateful Nation supports and 
salutes the Sons and Daughters in Touch on its 20th Anniversary being 
held on Father's Day at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, 
DC. This is very important legislation that I would like to bring to 
your attention today.
  I want to recognize and applaud the outstanding efforts of the 
sponsor of this legislation, my colleague Representative Deborah 
Halvorson a stellar member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
  Sons and Daughters in Touch is a national organization consisting of 
3,000 Americans whose fathers were killed or went missing during the 
Vietnam War. Throughout the Vietnam War 58,236 Americans were killed, 
153,452 were wounded and 2,489 of these brave servicemen still remain 
missing. These numbers are mind-boggling and we owe it to these 
families to continue to support and recognize those that served and 
gave their lives to protect this Nation.
  It has been estimated that among the 58,236 Americans lost in 
Southeast Asia, that more than one-third were fathers. It has been 
noted that more than 20,000 American children were left fatherless 
during this time.
  This Father's Day weekend, Sons and Daughters in Touch will celebrate 
its 20th anniversary. Hundreds of sons and daughters who lost their 
fathers in the Vietnam War will join together on the Nation's Capitol 
to hold a series of remembrance ceremonies to continue the healing 
process for these families.
  The sponsor of this resolution is one of our new Members, Mrs. 
Halvorson of Illinois, who has taken such a very dynamic part in our 
deliberations on the Veterans' Affairs Committee, and I yield such time 
as she may consume to the gentlewoman for an explanation of the bill.
  Mrs. HALVORSON. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. 
Res. 278, a resolution honoring the 20th anniversary of the founding of 
the Sons and Daughters in Touch.
  For the last two decades, this organization has provided support to 
those sons and daughters who lost a parent fighting during the Vietnam 
War. During the war in Southeast Asia, we lost over 58,000 men and 
women in uniform; of those, it is estimated that more than one-third 
were fathers. That means that more than 20,000 children were lost 
without a father to help raise them. This means that thousands of 
children missed out on the memories of growing up with a parent or, in 
some cases, even the opportunity to meet them.
  Founded by a son who helped bury his father after being shot down 
over Vietnam, Sons and Daughters in Touch was founded by Tony Cordero, 
who simply wanted to find others like him who had lost a parent in 
battle. Working with members of other organizations that connected and 
supported those left behind at home, Tony worked to create an 
organization that continues to benefit 3,000 people every day.
  Next Monday, those of us here will return home to honor the lives of 
those who sacrificed everything to keep our country safe. Today, we can 
honor those who were left waiting. Today, we can honor those who fought 
the battle of moving on without that loved one by their side. I ask my 
colleagues to stand here with me as we stand up for our military 
families. I ask my colleagues to stand with me and with those who have 
joined us today as we honor the loss and sacrifice they have endured. I 
ask that my colleagues join me in supporting H. Con. Res 278, honoring 
the 20th anniversary of the founding of the Sons and Daughters in 
Touch.
  I would also like to take a moment to recognize Chairman Filner for 
his dedication and hard work on behalf of our veterans, as well as for 
his help in bringing this resolution to the floor in such a timely 
manner.
  Mr. BUYER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res 278, and I want to 
thank Deborah Halvorson, a member of the committee, for introducing the 
legislation. It expresses a sense of the Congress that a grateful 
Nation supports and salutes the Sons and Daughters in Touch on its 20th 
anniversary that is being held on Father's Day, 2010 at the Vietnam 
Veterans Memorial here in Washington, D.C., the District of Columbia.
  During the conflict in Vietnam, more than 20,000 children lost a 
parent. These children suffered a profound loss and deserve the 
gratitude and appreciation of the Nation for the sacrifice made by 
their families. Founded in 1990 to join together the children of those 
who lost their fathers during this conflict, the Sons and Daughters in 
Touch work to locate, unite, and provide support to other sons and 
daughters and other family members with regard to

[[Page H3720]]

those who died and remain missing as a result of the Vietnam War.

                              {time}  1515

  The organization works to promote healing through networking and 
special projects, and it regularly addresses high schools and college 
classes in the hopes of providing education on the historical and 
emotional legacies of war. Today, through local chapters' events, this 
organization has reunions and partnerships with the veterans' 
community.
  These sons and daughters have become examples of America's 
resilience. It is fitting that we remember the contributions and the 
legacies left behind by those who served and who made the ultimate 
sacrifice for their Nation. These young men and women left their 
homelands to fight on foreign soil, answering their Nation's call to 
duty. They served honorably and often with merit and honor.
  This Father's Day, the Sons and Daughters in Touch will be honoring 
their fathers on their 20th-year reunion. With a new generation of 
children who recently suffered the loss of parents in current 
conflicts, the members of the Sons and Daughters in Touch will be able 
to provide them with support and encouragement for years to come. In 
honoring the children of those lost during the Vietnam War, we honor 
the men and women who served during that conflict, and we remember 
their sacrifices to a grateful Nation.
  It is always very, very important to tell the story, not only by 
those who served in war but also with regard to those who kept the 
watch fires burning and remained home--not only by the wives but also 
by the widows and by the children. It is important to tell their 
stories, to actually convey their stories.
  At times, those of us who have served this Nation in war have come 
back home and have gotten upset with individuals who may not share the 
same dimension of our experience, and we can get upset with them just 
as easily as they can get upset with regard to whatever conflict we 
participated in. Sometimes we judge the world through our own prism and 
our own dimensions, and we have our own value systems. Yet, unless we 
are able to convey the stories, how can we even hope that someone would 
be able to understand? So, when the widows and, in fact, the orphans of 
those who lost their lives in service to this country tell their 
stories, it helps others to understand the sacrifice.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, again, I thank the gentlewoman from 
Illinois (Mrs. Halvorson), who put together this important resolution 
that we are considering.
  I urge my colleagues to unanimously support H. Con. Res. 278, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Filner) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 278.
  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. FILNER. 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.

                          ____________________