[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 20]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 28877]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



 TRIBUTE TO U.S. ARMY COMMAND SERGEANT MAJOR RONALD W. BEDFORD--A REAL 
                             AMERICAN HERO

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. TERRY EVERETT

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, November 4, 1999

  Mr. EVERETT. Mr. Speaker, our society has cheapened the name of 
heroes today by elevating millionaire movie, music and sports stars 
while ignoring those Americans who perform unselfish acts of courage 
and sacrifice. I wish to pay tribute to an American whose character and 
actions truly define heroism.
  On September 2, the 54th anniversary of VJ-DAY, U.S. Army Command 
Sergeant Major Donald W. Bedford, began a 1,500 mile journey from 
Mobile, Alabama to Washington, DC. His trek, which takes him through 
six states and the District of Columbia, is remarkable because it is 
entirely on foot. But CSM Bedford is not walking this enormous distance 
to set any record. Instead, he is striding the 71-day route to bring 
attention to and raise funding for the construction of a national 
memorial to honor America's greatest generation of heroes--those who 
fought in World War II.
  Bedford, an ex-airborne infantryman now stationed at Fort Rucker, 
Alabama in my congressional district, came up with the idea of the walk 
after learning that there was no national memorial for the 16 million 
Americans who served and sacrificed to liberate the world from Nazi and 
Japanese occupation in World War II. His efforts to help raise money 
for the on-going World War II Memorial fund have gained the support of 
the Non-Commissioned Officers Association, and the praise of former 
Senator Bob Dole, who chairs the World War II Memorial Committee.
  CSM Bedford's journey of 2,792,000 steps will take him through 144 
cities and 15 military installations before he arrives at Arlington 
National Cemetery on November 11. From there, he will cross Memorial 
Bridge, pass by the Lincoln Memorial, and then proceed to the spot on 
the national mall where the World War II Memorial will be built next 
year.
  I salute CSM Bedford for his personal sacrifice and dedication to 
America's greatest generation and I join all Americans in welcoming him 
to Washington this Veterans' Day.

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