[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Pages 10670-10671]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



              225TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY

  Mr. GRAMS. Mr. President, Valley Forge, Gettysburg, Normandy, Pusan, 
Panama, and Kuwait are well-known names in our nation's history. I 
proudly rise to honor an American institution that has proven its 
unparalleled greatness time and again in battles such as these. I ask 
my colleagues to join me in recognizing today as the 225th anniversary 
of the U.S. Army.
  When the Second Continental Congress established the U.S. Army on 
June 14, 1775, it set forth an organization that has repeatedly faced 
adversity straight in the eye and never backed down. From fulfilling 
the promises of the Declaration of Independence to countering Saddam 
Hussein's aggression in Kuwait, the Army's dedication to our nation's 
bedrock values and its protection of our cherished freedoms has been 
exemplary. For more than two centuries, Army personnel have rallied to 
both defend our American shores and ensure the rights of citizens 
around the world.
  The role of a soldier has changed drastically over the Army's rich, 
225-year history. Technological and political changes have altered the 
battlefield landscape, but the core principles the Army consistently 
upholds have not changed. Those principles were captured by General 
Douglas MacArthur in his 1962 address at West Point:

       Duty, honor, country: Those three hallowed words reverently 
     dictate what you ought to be, what you can be, what you will 
     be. They are your rallying point to build courage when 
     courage seems to fail, to regain faith when there seems to be 
     little cause for faith, to create hope when hope becomes 
     forlorn.

  While many of the Army's accomplishments have been in battle, others 
have come during pivotal moments of peace. Since its inception, the 
Army has been instrumental in humanitarian and disaster relief efforts 
that have helped countless citizens in their greatest time of need. By 
helping tornado victims throughout the American Midwest or assisting in 
the flood-ravaged areas of Mozambique, Army personnel serve honorably.
  The Army has a long history of turning ordinary men and women into 
distinguished soldiers. Currently, there are about 480,000 soldiers on 
active

[[Page 10671]]

duty, comprising the premier fighting force in the world. Whether it is 
the most senior Army general or the soldier standing guard at the North 
Korean border, the quality of our soldiers is unsurpassed. It is 
consistently proven that the investment we make in our military 
personnel today reaps the leaders of tomorrow.
  One of my highest priorities here in Congress is maintaining the 
strength of that important investment, because it is crucial to our 
future. At the very root of our national security is the well-being of 
our soldiers. This includes supplying the best technologically advanced 
equipment in the world and ensuring our Armed Forces are funded at 
levels that adequately compensate our dedicated servicemen and women.
  The dedication and sacrifices demonstrated by millions of Army 
veterans must never be forgotten, nor should their needs be neglected; 
honoring the commitments this nation has made to its veterans is vital.
  As we celebrate the Army's 225th anniversary today, I encourage all 
Americans to reflect on the blanket of freedoms we are blessed with, 
thanks to the sacrifices made by those who valiantly heed the call of 
duty by serving in the United States Army, both in war and peacetime. I 
am proud to join my colleagues in congratulating the Army on this 
impressive milestone.

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