[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 20]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 29642]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                   IN HONOR OF OUR NATION'S VETERANS

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. RON KIND

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 10, 1999

  Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, tomorrow our nation pays tribute to the men 
and women who served in the armed forces. Veterans Day is an 
opportunity for everyone to stop and say thanks to those who have given 
so much to protect our freedom.
  Since the beginning of our nation, the soldiers, sailors, airmen, and 
marines of the Armed Forces have been called on to risk their lives and 
fight for the ideals that make America great. The level of our support 
for the Armed Forces has varied throughout history. Yet, regardless of 
what one thinks about the wars that they fought, or the wisdom of our 
involvement, we all should agree that those men and women responded to 
the call of their country and performed with honor and dignity.
  This year we should take time to especially remember the veterans of 
World War II, many of whom are well into their 80's. Now more than 
ever, we need to listen to and preserve their collective wisdom and 
experience. Their devotion and courage can teach us about the 
importance of an individual's commitment to a cause greater than 
oneself.
  On Veterans Day, in my congressional district, I have arranged to 
bring some of those veterans together with middle school students in 
several communities in western Wisconsin. My hope is that our children 
will learn the true meaning of duty, honor and courage from those 
veterans who were heroes on battlefields around the globe. It is 
important that our children learn about the sacrifices made by previous 
generations.
  I recently read an excerpt from Senator John McCain's new book Faith 
of our Fathers. Senator McCain spent more than 5 years as a prisoner of 
war in North Vietnam, in what was derisively referred to as the ``Hanoi 
Hilton.'' In his book he talks about the meaning of glory.

       For I have learned the truth: There are greater pursuits 
     than self-seeking. Glory is not a conceit. It is not 
     decoration for valor. It is not a prize for being the most 
     clever, the strongest, or the boldest. Glory belongs to the 
     act of being constant to something greater than yourself, to 
     a cause, to your principles, to the people on whom you rely, 
     and who rely on you in return. No misfortune, no injury, no 
     humiliation can destroy it.

  These words are a powerful reminder of the attitude shared by 
thousands of our veterans, living and dead, when they answered their 
nation's call. They are good words to remember, not just on Veterans 
Day, but every day.

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