[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Page 25489]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                 HONORING OUR VETERANS ON VETERANS' DAY

  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, on November 11th, people across the 
United States will celebrate Veterans' Day--a day in which we pause to 
remember and to honor the brave men and women who served their country 
in our armed forces.
  November 11th also marks the anniversary of the armistice that ended 
World War I, a conflict that promised to be the ``war to end all 
wars.'' Unfortunately, the peace that followed World War I was short-
lived. The world soon was plunged into the cauldron of World War II, 
followed by the terror of the Cold War--played out on so many fronts, 
most tragically in Korea and Vietnam. Today we face continued threats 
to our liberty, with outlaw leaders of rogue states waging extremist 
campaigns against freedom and democracy, as well as the persistent 
danger of terrorist attacks--which we have seen all too recently with 
the USS Cole tragedy.
  Indeed, the world is still a dangerous place, and World War I's 
promise of a lasting, worldwide peace has yet to be realized. The 
conflicts of the last century remind us that freedom constantly 
requires great sacrifices and often the lives of those who defend it. 
It is these patriots, the men and women of our armed forces, who 
answered the call of service and protected the freedoms we cherish. 
Although we can never fully repay the debt we owe these courageous 
Americans, we can and must continue to recognize the price they paid.
  This year, Veterans' Day falls just four days after Election Day. I 
find this particularly fitting, as there is no greater symbol of 
American liberty than our ability to participate in free and fair 
elections. Above all else, we owe this freedom to our veterans. Time 
and again, our democracy has been preserved by these brave men and 
women.
  This Veterans' Day marks another special occasion; the groundbreaking 
ceremony for the World War II Memorial, to be located on the National 
Mall in our nation's capital. This monument will stand in recognition 
of a generation of Americans who served their country so ably in 
resisting the forces of Nazism and oppression. This was a defining 
moment in our nation's history, and one to which almost every American 
feels some connection. My own father is a World War II veteran, and 
Purple Heart recipient.
  Unlike my father, however, many Americans did not return home from 
this noble campaign. They were the duty-bound sons and daughters of our 
nation, who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country and for 
freedom. In the words of President Lincoln, they ``gave the last full 
measure of devotion,'' and we must uphold the memory of their heroism 
with respect, with reverence, and with our heartfelt admiration.
  This is the purpose of Veterans' Day. Although mere words do not pay 
adequate tribute to the sacrifices our veterans have laid upon the 
altar of freedom, the knowledge of their noble deeds lives in the 
hearts and minds of those who are free--and shall not be forgotten.

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