[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Pages 22737-22738]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   IN HONOR OF THE NATION'S VETERANS

  Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I rise today in celebration of National 
Veterans Awareness Week, a time to commemorate and appreciate all the 
men and women who have served in America's Armed Forces. The week of 
November 10, 2002, is for honoring the soldiers, sailors, airmen, and 
marines--some now gone, and some still alive--who have fought to 
protect our freedoms and liberties.
  The Nation's veterans have often stood as the last barrier between 
our country and the terrors of fascism, communism, and anarchy. They 
have waged war, kept peace, and deterred the threat of the unknown. The 
work of those in uniform is dangerous and difficult; it requires a 
personal commitment and sacrifice, as well as the patience and support 
of their families. Members of the armed services have a brave, 
admirable responsibility and a

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privileged perspective of history. It is with deepest respect that I 
thank them for their courage and their continued dedication to our 
Nation's security.
  Pennsylvania is the proud home of more than a million veterans, all 
of whom have demonstrated their love of country in defending our 
borders and our way of life. But in remembering and applauding their 
service, we must also recognize America's next veteran generation: the 
men and women in uniform today. Our duty as lawmakers is to ensure that 
our service members' commitment to the Nation is matched by the 
Government's diligence in preparing them to face our current and future 
threats. Also important is the quality of life that these service 
members and their families deserve. It should, therefore, be a priority 
to improve the salaries, benefits, and facilities that our military men 
and women, and their families, rely upon.
  America's troops on the ground, on the sea, and in the air make up 
the most capable military force in all the world, and their equipment 
and support systems should be nothing less than first rate. The current 
war on terrorism and the changing threats of the 21st century demand a 
new level of readiness from our military that can only be met with 
better funding and more effective programs. The Nation's Armed Forces 
need to be prepared for the realities of a new security paradigm and a 
new kind of combat. Last year's terrorist attacks have changed our 
understanding of modern warfare and the need to protect our cities and 
our citizens. And in response to this realization, the Senate has 
passed legislation to increase spending so that our military can be 
equipped and trained to counter the world's growing, nontraditional 
threats.
  We owe much to our veterans: respect and admiration, in addition to 
appropriate retirement and healthcare benefits. We can most greatly 
honor these men and women, however, by focusing on the needs of the 
current service members who will one day be veterans themselves. We 
must support their mission today so that we can celebrate their 
accomplishments tomorrow. I encourage my colleagues and my fellow 
Americans to join me in paying tribute to the veterans, past, present 
and future, who are an indispensable part of what makes our country the 
greatest in the world.

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