[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 8]
[House]
[Pages 10323-10324]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



              RESTORING THE LAFAYETTE-ESCADRILLE MEMORIAL

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 3, 2001, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Stearns) is recognized 
during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
  Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, a little over a month ago I brought to the 
attention of my colleagues the deteriorating state of the Lafayette-
Escadrille Memorial, which honors all United States aviators who flew 
for France in World War I.

[[Page 10324]]

  On June 17, a wreath laying ceremony will take place at the memorial 
to commemorate the 85th anniversary of its dedication. Tomorrow I will 
be introducing a resolution in honor of the 68 Americans who were 
memorialized or buried on the site and to honor all our fallen aviators 
of World War I. In addition, the resolution will express support for 
the funding needed to restore this hallowed site.
  In a poster right here, this storyboard depicts the history of the 
Lafayette-Escadrille and their ``Heritage of Valor and Sacrifice.'' 
Seven Americans formed the original American squadron. When the 
Escadrille, which means squadron, transferred to United States command 
in 1918, 265 American volunteers had served in the French Air Service 
with 180 of those having flown combat missions. In all, the Escadrille 
flew 3,000 combat sorties, amassing nearly 200 victories. In fact, the 
Escadrille became the birth of the United States Air Force.
  A joint French-American committee was organized at the end of World 
War I to locate a final resting place for these American aviators. With 
the land donated by the French Government, the Lafayette-Escadrille 
Memorial was dedicated on July 4, 1928. The picture in the middle is 
the front of the memorial. It encompasses an arch of triumph with a 
series of columns placed on either side. Indeed, it is a sight to 
behold.
  The memorial also contains a sanctuary and a burial crypt. Sunlight 
fills the tomb by way of 13 stained glass windows. Each of these works 
of art depicts the Escadrille flying its many missions over the 
battlefields of Europe. One of the most striking stained glass works 
depicts the U.S. aviators, escorted by an eagle, on a symbolic flight 
across the Atlantic to come to the aid of France.
  Sadly, the memorial is in desperate need of repair. The structure 
sits in a meadow with a high water table. Heavy rains flood the tomb, 
exacerbated by the poor functioning drains and water leaking through 
the terrace behind the memorial. Structural repairs are needed for the 
crypt and the overall foundation, and double glass is needed to protect 
the remarkable, remarkable stained glass windows.
  If we look again at the center, we will see that the front of the 
memorial is cracked and stained with pollution.
  Let me show my colleagues the next poster. This graphic here shows 
the deterioration inside the crypt. The crumbling masonry and stucco 
and overall structural damage is evident.
  Here we can see additional damage on the ceiling. Furthermore, the 
stained glass windows, like the one we see here, are not protected. 
These beautiful works of art could be lost forever if the structural 
deterioration is allowed to continue.
  In 1930, U.S. Attorney Nelson Cromwell founded the Lafayette-
Escadrille Memorial Foundation. He endowed the foundation with a $1.5 
million trust fund for maintenance, which has all been exhausted. 
Today, the foundation has a mirror organization in France and a pledge 
of monetary support to restore this memorial.
  Although studies to estimate the cost of restoring the memorial are 
ongoing, it is obvious that the resources required will exceed the 
meager means of this foundation. The French Government has already 
indicated its willingness to assist, and it is time for the United 
States Government to do the same.
  Combining the efforts of private industry and the United States 
Congress, it is my hope to join the French in restoring the memorial to 
its original beauty. It is the right thing to do to honor our fallen 
aviators of World War I and to demonstrate our respect for the 
sacrifices of all Americans in service to our Nation and our allies.
  Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join with me in supporting 
funding for the restoration of this great memorial.

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