[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 15]
[Senate]
[Page 21903]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



               LAND FOR THE FORT SCOTT NATIONAL CEMETERY

  Mr. BROWNBACK. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize an activity 
that is going on in my home State of Kansas that I think is quite 
commendable. Thirteen veterans from Fort Scott, KS, have expanded the 
lifespan of the Fort Scott National Cemetery by about 35 years through 
their hard work and dedication.
  I point this out because I think this is what America is all about. 
It is about a can-do atmosphere and about people taking it upon 
themselves to do something that they believe is not getting done; and 
making it happen.
  With about 1,100 World War II veterans dying every day, many veterans 
cemeteries are struggling to accommodate veterans' burials. That is 
true in my State as well. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans 
Affairs, by 2008, the annual number of deaths of veterans from all U.S. 
conflicts will reach 620,000, or about 1,700 a day.
  Fort Scott National Cemetery is one of 12 Civil War national 
cemeteries. It was dedicated in 1862 by President Abraham Lincoln. I 
grew up just north of Fort Scott, about 40 miles away. It was an old 
Indian fort early on. Then it was used, obviously, as well, during the 
Civil War.
  In a concession to make space for veterans wanting to be buried at 
the Fort Scott National Cemetery, burial spots are currently being made 
smaller, and sloping land that originally was deemed unusable is now 
being used.
  Thanks to the extraordinary efforts of these veterans I have 
mentioned, these 13 veterans, working as the Fort Scott National 
Cemetery Expansion Committee, 10 acres of land will be added to the 
cemetery. This land, just across the old stone wall from the cemetery, 
was purchased by the 13 veterans, who took out a loan, and who then 
sought contributions and worked the crowds at American Legion and VFW 
halls throughout the region to raise money to pay off the loan. Once 
the loan was paid off, the veterans donated the land to the Department 
of Veterans Affairs.
  On Veterans Day, this year, November 12, 2001, this land will be 
dedicated and ready to handle about 3,300 burial sites. I applaud the 
initiative of these Fort Scott veterans who have successfully 
undertaken the effort to expand this historic cemetery and provide a 
place of honor for veterans and their eligible dependents for several 
decades to come.
  I point this out because Fort Scott National Cemetery is one of the 
oldest veterans cemeteries in the country, dedicated by Abraham 
Lincoln. It is filled up--or soon will be full. These veterans, by 
their own initiative, secured the loan, purchased the land, got the 
loan paid off, and donated it to the Department of Veterans Affairs, 
which is receiving the land, and now will be able to provide an 
additional 3,300 burial sites for veterans.
  I think that this is such a commendable thing that these veterans 
have done. I will be there on November 12, along with a number of other 
people, to recognize and honor what these men have done. I think it is 
wholly appropriate to recognize what they have done in this body as 
well.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. TORRICELLI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  (The remarks of Mr. Torricelli are printed in today's Record under 
``Morning Business.'')
  Mr. TORRICELLI. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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