[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 84 (Tuesday, May 22, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H4289]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              LET US REMEMBER THE FALLEN THIS MEMORIAL DAY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, many of us in this House 
will attend Memorial Day ceremonies over the weekend. I actually had 
four over this past weekend. I was privileged and honored to be there 
as we honor those who have died in the service of this great Nation to 
defend our rights and our liberties.
  Observed on the last Monday of May, Memorial Day is one of America's 
most solemn occasions. The traditional Memorial Day dates back to 1864, 
in Boalsburg, Pennsylvania, not too far from my home in Centre County, 
Pennsylvania's Fifth Congressional District, as the birthplace of 
Memorial Day. Three ladies decorated the graves of fallen Civil War 
soldiers, and the custom has continued every year since then.
  Boalsburg still puts on a traditional Memorial Day celebration 
complete with a parade, a community walk to the cemetery, speeches, 
military enactments, and much more.
  On Memorial Day, communities across the country will pay tribute to 
our fallen veterans who never returned home. Many of us will gather 
with family members and friends and neighbors as we keep those we lost 
in our hearts.
  So as we raise the Stars and Stripes, as we lay wreaths at monuments, 
memorials, and cemeteries, let us remember that our freedom is thanks 
to those who died and served in sacrifice.
  Mr. Speaker, Memorial Day weekend also marks the ninth year that the 
National Endowment of the Arts and Blue Star Families begins Blue Star 
Museums. This program provides free admission to our Nation's Active-
Duty military personnel this summer from Memorial Day weekend through 
Labor Day weekend of 2018.
  This is an initiative of the National Endowment of the Arts in 
collaboration with Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and 
more than 2,000 museums nationwide, including children's museums, fine 
art museums, history and science museums, zoos, and nature centers.
  Blue Star Museums are one way our Nation's museums can express 
appreciation to our military for their service and share with them 
America's cultural treasures. Blue Star Museums also provide a way for 
military families to feel connected to their community, especially for 
those families that have recently relocated through a change of 
station.
  Blue Star Families build communities that support military families 
by connecting research and data to programs and solutions, including 
career development tools, local community events for families, and 
caregiver support. Since 2009, Blue Star Families have engaged tens of 
thousands of volunteers and served more than 1.5 million military 
family members.
  Mr. Speaker, Blue Star Families will be celebrating with every 
American this weekend as we commemorate Memorial Day in honor of so 
many who are no longer with us. May God bless them, and may God bless 
the United States of America.

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