[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Pages 9349-9350]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                ARMED FORCES APPRECIATION DAY STATEMENT

  Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, each year, on the third Saturday in May, 
the nation expresses appreciation and gratitude to our military. In 
Louisiana, we are proud of our men and women in uniform and have a 
long-standing tradition of honoring them every year. We are proud of 
the military in times of war, and we are proud of the military in times 
of peace. We know that without our fighting men and women ``life, 
liberty and the pursuit of happiness'' would be just hollow words. 
Since the birth of our Nation, America's Armed Forces has served the 
United States with honor, courage, and distinction, both at home and 
abroad. America's patriots have assumed a sacred duty, understanding 
that our history, our heritage, and our honor, require us to bear the 
burdens of sacrifice. We acknowledge and applaud their selfless 
service, courage, and dedication to duty.
  Today, thousands of troops are deployed throughout the world, 
operating in every time zone, and in every climate defending our 
freedom. Our sailors and Marines are aboard ships and submarines in the 
Adriatic. Our Air Force and Navy pilots fly the perilous skies over 
Iraq. Our soldiers keep the vigil and preserve the peace in the former 
Yugoslavia. They do it to promote American values: democracy and 
freedom from the oppression of demagogues, tyrants and totalitarian 
governments. The peace and freedom so longed for by people throughout 
the world often starts over here, on American soil. When our Armed 
Forces go overseas, they take with them our national values: a 
tradition of democracy and a love of individual liberty. Our service 
members are truly freedom's ambassadors.
  So on behalf of the state of Louisiana and a grateful nation, we 
thank you. We thank you for all that you give to us every day of your 
lives. We thank

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those serving on active duty, those standing by in the Reserves and 
National Guard, and we thank all family members for their patience and 
their sacrifices. Thank you for your devotion to duty, for your 
loyalty, for your courage and for your patriotic and profound love of 
country.

                          ____________________