[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 110 (Thursday, June 24, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E696]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





    HONORING CHLOE CHANG OF PECK PLACE SCHOOL IN ORANGE, CONNECTICUT

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                          HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 24, 2021

  Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, each year the community of Orange, 
Connecticut gathers for a solemn ceremony to mark Memorial Day. As part 
of this ceremony, local elementary school students are invited to 
submit essays that share their thoughts on Memorial Day and its meaning 
to them. Submissions from each of the community's three elementary 
schools are selected to be included in the ceremony. I had the 
opportunity to join the Orange ceremony this year and was inspired by 
the words of this year's winners and am pleased to have this 
opportunity to share them.
  Chloe Chang, a student at Peck Place School submitted the following 
essay:

       We dress in red, white, and blue, attend parades, and honor 
     the men and women who have fallen in the Civil War. This 
     holiday has been around for 182 years, and we still donate 
     money, coupons, and flowers to the perished soldiers. Their 
     sacrifices have allowed them to serve their country, putting 
     the welfare of others before their own. How can we repay 
     them? We can give a moment of silence, visit their burial 
     ground, and learn about their history.
       The holiday started in 1868, where North America was 
     fighting to end slavery, and South America was fighting to 
     preserve slavery. The war to end slavery lasted for over 4 
     years, and Robert E. Lee finally capitulated the last 
     Confederate Soldiers to General Ulysses S. Grant. 
     ``Decoration Day'' was declared by General John A. Logan in 
     1868. In ``Decoration Day'', flowers are laid on war graves 
     in honor of the deceased. Memorial Day holiday was declared a 
     national holiday in 1971 to honor those who have died in all 
     American wars.
       The Union Army has contributed immensely to our lives, and 
     the least we can do is say a little thank you. The invaluable 
     changes they made upon our history is indescribable, and we 
     are forever indebted to them. These brave men and women have 
     done much for their fatherland by sacrificing their own 
     lives, and we continue to honor them on May 31, Memorial Day.

  For more than two hundred years American soldiers have answered the 
call to defend our land and our values of freedom and democracy. With 
annual ceremonies like the one in Orange, that engage our youngest 
citizens, we ensure that we will never forget that our armed forces 
have a long and proud history, and that every one of our veterans has 
demonstrated outstanding courage, dedication, and service. It is my 
honor to rise today to thank Chloe Chang for her very special 
contribution to Memorial Day and her community.

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