[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17971]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



              THE EISENHOWER DISTINGUISHED CITIZENS AWARD

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM BLILEY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 12, 2000

  Mr. BLILEY. Mr. Speaker, in keeping with its policy, ``the Army takes 
care of its own,'' the members of the U.S. Army and their families and 
friends financed and constructed the Army Distaff Hall at 6200 Oregon 
Avenue, Washington, D.C. The facility, designed to provide a haven for 
the widows of deceased military personnel, was completed in 1962. Ten 
years ago, the name of the facility was changed to Knollwood and a new 
resident policy was instituted to include retired military personnel 
and their spouses.
  A driving force behind this successful operation was General Dwight 
D. and Mrs. Eisenhower. The Army Distaff Foundation, Inc. annually 
recognizes an individual whose contributions to the military are 
outstanding. The current recipient of the Eisenhower Distinguished 
Citizens Award is historian and author, Stephen E. Ambrose, Ph.D., and 
his citation is as follows:
  Stephen Ambrose has devoted his whole professional life to the 
writing of deeply insightful accounts of critical moments in American 
history. From the explorations of Lewis and Clark in the early 1800's, 
to his works on the Civil War, the Indian Wars, and World War II, Dr. 
Ambrose has brought into focus the profound hardships and perils of 
many outstanding historical events. In doing so, he has revealed the 
strength, the determination, and the courage of the men and women who 
risked their lives to achieve the needs and the goals of our country.
  Dr. Ambrose chronicled the achievements of men and women of all ranks 
in World War II--citizens who braved adversity to overcome the barbaric 
threat to the free world. In an initiative of enduring importance going 
beyond his historical writings, he brought into being the National D-
Day Museum in New Orleans, an institution that celebrates and 
commemorates the American spirit, teamwork, optimism, courage, and 
sacrifice of the men and women who won World War II.
  As a result of Dr. Ambrose's careful documentation and analysis of 
the major campaigns of World War II, he has been a force in the field 
of international education. His works have been published in numerous 
languages and he has lectured at nearly all the leading universities in 
Europe. Central to all his presentations, he has been a storyteller who 
vividly explains, illustrates, informs, and entertains.
  Throughout his lifetime of work, Dr. Ambrose has distinguished 
himself in his field by showing the need for military preparedness, and 
by describing the achievements of American leaders, and the citizen 
soldiers whom they led, thereby illustrating the historical heritage of 
America and Americans. The nation stands in debt to this accomplished 
storyteller who has added so much to our knowledge of what has gone 
before.

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