[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 82 (Thursday, May 29, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E861]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                IN RECOGNITION AND HONOR OF ALL VETERANS

                                  _____
                                 

                           HON. MARCY KAPTUR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 29, 2014

  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition and honor of all 
veterans on this Memorial Day, celebrated on Monday. In gratitude of 
all freedom lovers who made our freedom and our ability to stand on 
this floor today as a free people possible--in particular the 400,000 
men and women who gave their lives and the 16.5 million men and women 
who served during World War II.
  This Memorial Day is particularly poignant as it is the 10th 
anniversary of the dedication of the World War II Memorial on the Mall. 
And on June 6th, we commemorate the 70th anniversary of the invasion of 
150,000 Allied troops' landing on the heavily-fortified coastline of 
Normandy, France--D-Day.
  On this year of anniversaries, as we think about the importance of 
this Memorial's place in American history, let us remember the 
significance of what these greatest Americans, this greatest generation 
of Americans, did for the freedom of humankind.
  When we dedicated the memorial in 2004, more than four million of the 
16 million American veterans of World War II were still alive. Today, 
fewer than a million remain. We lose more than 500 of them every day. 
And ten years from now, at the 20th anniversary ceremony, only 80,000, 
roughly, will survive.
  At the memorial, what Abraham Lincoln called ``the mystic chords of 
memory'' are played with grandeur and grace. And that is what the 
memorial is all about. It was built to preserve a memory--
  The memory of gallantry and devotion, of honor and sacrifice, of 
dedication to a cause bigger than oneself.
  The memory of a generation of ordinary Americans who did something 
extraordinary--answering duty's call, saving democracy, and then 
modestly returning to their communities and their families, to work in 
the factory, to work on the farm . . . or simply to carry the mail.
  The World War II Memorial will be there long after the World War II 
veterans are gone. While they are still with us, take the opportunity 
to let them know that a grateful nation will always pay tribute to 
their courageous service and they will always be remembered as heroes.
  Mr. Speaker, let us not forget the valor, fidelity, and sacrifice of 
all World War II participants, and those who served in the conflicts 
that followed.

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