[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 182 (Thursday, November 14, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H8834]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   AMERICANS WHO HAVE VOLUNTARILY SERVED AND SACRIFICED DESERVE OUR 
                   DEEPEST GRATITUDE AND RECOGNITION

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Colorado (Mr. Crow) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. CROW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Global War on 
Terrorism Memorial Location Act, which I am very proud to have 
introduced along with my friend and colleague from Wisconsin, 
Congressman   Mike Gallagher.
  The global war on terrorism changed the course of American history 
and the lives of millions of servicemembers, first responders, and 
civil servants--including my own.
  On 9/11 and since, we have learned that we can never take our 
democracy or our country's security for granted. It is a fight that, 
sadly, continues today.
  The millions of Americans who have voluntarily served and sacrificed 
for our Nation deserve our deepest gratitude, but they also deserve our 
recognition.
  Several generations of Americans have now come of age during the 
global war on terrorism. There are now Americans born after 9/11 who 
are serving today, overseas, in uniform in what has become our Nation's 
longest conflict.
  That is one of the reasons why it is now time for us to recognize the 
several generations of Americans who have volunteered to serve our 
Nation: those of us who have served and who have worked to help our 
fellow veterans understand the important power of place, the 
transformational power of a sacred location where veterans and their 
families can come together to heal, to remember, and to reflect.
  Memorials like those for World War II, Korea, and Vietnam have 
provided the opportunities for those generations whose lives and 
service were defined by those conflicts, and it is now time for the 
current generation of veterans to have that same opportunity. It is our 
hope that, by honoring them in the Nation's Capital, we will ensure a 
location befitting of their service and their sacrifice.
  Over 2\1/2\ million Americans have served in uniform in the global 
war on terrorism, and millions more first responders, law enforcement, 
and civil servants have also supported global operations. To date, over 
7,000 Americans have given the ultimate sacrifice and over 53,000 have 
been wounded. Many more bear the invisible scars of the war that will 
be with them for the rest of their lives.
  If these feel like statistics to some, they are not to me and to many 
others. At a time when Congress feels more divided than ever before, I 
hope that this Congress can focus on what we do have in common and what 
does bring us together so that we can move our country forward.
  We have a sacred duty to those who have selflessly served in our 
Nation's longest war, and it is a charge that we do not take lightly. I 
urge my colleagues to join me in this effort by supporting the bill.

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