[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 99 (Thursday, June 14, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H5163]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             FLAG DAY AND CELEBRATING U.S. ARMY'S BIRTHDAY

  (Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 
commemorate Flag Day and celebrate the U.S. Army's 243rd birthday.
  Each year on June 14, we celebrate the Stars and Stripes, which the 
Second Continental Congress designated as a symbol of our Nation on 
this day in 1777.
  Since our founding, our flag has flown across the country and the 
world. It has flown during both our most tragic moments and our 
greatest triumphs. It has also been a glorious symbol of hope for our 
brave servicemen and -women, who salute it, defend it, serve it, and, 
in some cases, die for it to protect our freedom and liberty.
  Yesterday, I was proud to join Secretary of the Army Mark Esper, Army 
Chief of Staff General Milley, and the Sergeant Major of the Army to 
celebrate the rich history of our Army.
  Without the Army 243 years ago, we would not be the great Nation that 
we are today. And today, we celebrate two great symbols of freedom, our 
Army and our flag, which both symbolize America being the land of the 
free and the home of the brave.

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