[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 20831-20832]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                        COMMEMORATING UNITY DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. GARY G. MILLER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 3, 2000

  Mr. GARY MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure 
that I commemorate Unity Day, which is being celebrated in Germany 
today. October 3, 2000 marks the 10th Anniversary of Germany's 
Reunification.

[[Page 20832]]

  Growing up, I learned about two countries called Germany--the West 
and the East--an ally and an enemy. For over 40 years, this country was 
divided; families were separated, and most strikingly, vastly different 
political ideologies governed these two nations.
  However, the highly dynamic 20th Century allowed the generation which 
witnessed the division of this great nation see it reunified on October 
3, 1990. What once seemed impossible became unstoppable as the Berlin 
Wall opened on November 9, 1989, and streams of excited people crossed 
into the west. While these people were separated by geography and 
government, their German heritage and common memory of one country kept 
them together.
  While the desire to reunite these two nations was strong, significant 
economic, political, and social challenges faced the newly united 
Germany. Despite these issues, the German government and her people 
pressed forward, refusing to look back.
  Today, Germany has much to celebrate. Now united, this country has 
defined itself, both as a sovereign nation, and within the context of 
multinational institutions such as the European Union, NATO, and the 
United States. In addition, Germany has remained a strong ally of the 
United States.
  As Germany celebrates the realization of freedom and democracy under 
one flag, let this Congress recognize and offer its congratulations on 
this milestone of achievement, the 10th Anniversary of German 
Reunification.

                          ____________________