[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 23721]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



      COMMENDING THE RIVERSIDE NATIONAL CEMETERY SUPPORT COMMITTEE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEN CALVERT

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 18, 2000

  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, today I commend the ``all volunteer'' 
Riverside National Cemetery Support Committee. President Dwight D. 
Eisenhower once remarked that, ``Whatever America hopes to bring to 
pass in the world must first come to pass in the heart of America.'' 
The volunteerism shown by the Cemetery Support Committee, for the past 
22 years, is a prime model of President Eisenhower's belief.
  The Cemetery Support Committee was established in 1978 with a simple 
mission, but one with heart behind it, to preserve and enhance the 
Riverside National Cemetery as a National Shrine. What has come to pass 
is no less than amazing.
  The Riverside National Cemetery is currently the second largest 
resting place in our national cemetery system, with 125,000 men and 
women of our armed forces standing silent vigil with us today. Ten 
short years into the new millennium, it is expected to be the largest 
cemetery in the national system. And in six decades it will have more 
than 1.4 million honored veterans. That will make Riverside National 
Cemetery larger than the Arlington National Cemetery--the most widely 
recognized, which is already at capacity with a quarter of a million 
veterans.
  The Cemetery Support Committee's work has made Riverside National 
Cemetery much more than the facts stated above--they have created a 
solemn historical place where Americans today and tomorrow can go to 
reflect upon the memory and sacrifices of past and present generations 
who fought for America, democracy and freedom. Four to five thousand 
people each Memorial Day and Veterans Day attend ceremonies organized 
by the Committee and held at the Riverside National Cemetery. They have 
raised private funds to purchase numerous items for the beautification 
of the cemetery, such as flower cones used at the Veterans' grave-sites 
by family and loved ones. Fund-raising has also been undertaken for the 
procurement and site construction of memorials to be placed in the 
cemetery--the most recent being the Veterans Memorial dedicated on May 
27, 2000; and future ones being POW/MIA, Chapliancy Corp. and Medics & 
Corpsmen memorials.
  Those who have worked so selflessly to create a place that is, as the 
Cemetery Support Committee likes to say, ``inspiring and stimulating 
our youth to become worthy citizens of this great country,'' have 
devoted their hearts to making the Riverside National Cemetery the 
National Shrine that it is today and well into tomorrow. I would like 
to take a moment to specifically recognize the current Board Members of 
the Cemetery Support Committee. They are: Jewel Beck, 1995; Paul 
Adkins, Chairman, 1998; Tom Hohmann, Secretary, 1992; Alta Marlin, Vice 
Chairwoman, 1989; Gery Porter, Treasurer, 1995; Walt Schiller, 1978; 
Judith Stemberg, 1989; Mike Warren, 1992; John Campbell, 1982; Guenther 
Griebau, 1999; Carolyn Jaeggli, 1986; Audrey Peterson, 1994; Elsie 
Porter, 1985; Pat Smith, 1998; and James Valdez, 1978.
  Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I will close by asking that each American 
awake each day dedicated to giving back to our families, friends, 
communities and nation as the Riverside National Cemetery Support 
Committee has done. As a people we must ``never forget'' those who have 
died and fought to make America great. God bless you and God bless 
America.

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