[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.
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