[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 12631]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                        TRIBUTE TO ``OLD GLORY''

  (Mr. GIBBONS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, today, along with my constituents of the 
Second Congressional District of Nevada, I want to pay tribute to our 
Nation's great flag.
  Since the day Betsy Ross became the most famous seamstress in 
American history, ``Old Glory'' has changed about 27 different times, 
but changing only in its glorious appearance.
  While our Nation has progressed and even grown over the past 2\1/2\ 
centuries, our flag continues to represent the same ideals, freedoms, 
and liberties we all cherish. But even further, the American flag 
represents the hopes and dreams of millions of people around the world.
  Our flag greets us when we arrive at our place of business. It greets 
our children when they arrive at school. Even out in the ballpark on a 
warm summer afternoon, ``Old Glory'' waives gallantly before us.
  Today, like any other day in Congress, we pledge our allegiance to 
the flag before addressing the issues that affect the very freedoms and 
liberty for which our flag stands.
  So as we settle in on this week of work, let us each take an extra 
moment today to recognize ``Old Glory,'' for we are all blessed to live 
under the freedoms and liberties for which the stars and stripes 
stands.

                          ____________________