[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 9788]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                         RECOGNIZING BRIAN KENT

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. RANDY ``DUKE'' CUNNINGHAM

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 25, 2001

  Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend, Brian Kent, a 
young man from White River, Vermont who recently won an award for a 
letter he wrote regarding the protection of the United States flag. Not 
only do I have deeply held, personal feelings on this subject, but I 
have also introduced a Constitutional amendment (H.J. Res. 36) to 
prohibit the desecration of the American Flag. Millions of American men 
and women have died in defense of this nation and the flag that 
represents the history of our nation. The American flag is a national 
treasure and the ultimate symbol of freedom, equal opportunity and 
religious tolerance.
  Brian's letter to his Congressman reflects these feelings and I was 
pleased to see a young person have such strongly held values and pride 
in America. Brian's value system and convictions are commendable at any 
age, but all the more impressive for this 8th grader. I had the 
opportunity to meet this young man and judging from this encounter, I 
know his parents must be proud of this fine young American.
  I commend his letter to my colleagues. Knowing students such as Brian 
assures me that this country's future is in good hands.

       Dear Representative Sanders: Two hundred and twenty-five 
     years ago, the great nation of the United States was formed. 
     This country has had its share of wars and protests, but one 
     act of violence that offends most Americans is flag burning. 
     Flag burning is a way of protesting, but it is at the expense 
     of the country's unity and it needs to be stopped.
       An unfathomable number of men and women have fought and 
     died to defend the red, white, and blue. To see not only 
     young, but also older Americans burning flags literally makes 
     me ashamed that these people are Americans. Former POWs have 
     created the American flag out of dead bugs while imprisoned. 
     For many Americans, our flag has lifted their spirits through 
     the darkest hours of our nation's history. The American flag 
     is not only our nation's emblem, it's a part of our everyday 
     life.
       Flag burning was not just a fad of the sixties but many 
     people still burn flags in protest today. People defend their 
     despicable acts by insisting that flag burning is practicing 
     their freedom of speech. Does anyone really believe that is 
     what Samuel Adams and Thomas Jefferson intended when they 
     wrote the constitution of the United States of America and 
     included the article for freedom of speech? Did they want to 
     create one nation under God that would spit on and burn the 
     American flag, the symbol that our forefathers died to 
     defend? No. These acts of burning our flag have divided our 
     country and some of the ramifications still divide Americans 
     today.
       I am writing lawmakers to bring flag burning to their 
     attention and ask them to consider passing a new law to 
     prosecute any person unlawfully burning or desecrating to 
     flag of the United States. I urge you to strongly consider 
     supporting this type of law. Burning of the American flag is 
     an act perpetrated against both our country and government, 
     and should be prosecuted as a federal offense. Every 
     unjustifiable burning of the American flag is a mockery of 
     the patriots who first died for ``liberty and justice for 
     all.''
           Sincerely,
                                                       Brian Kent.





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