[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 19]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 26137]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          RECOGNIZING NAVY DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. STENY H. HOYER

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 28, 2003

  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize ``Navy Day,'' 
observed on October 27th, and to pay tribute to the impressive work 
done at the naval bases in my district, Patuxent River Naval Surface 
Warfare Center, Indian Head Surface Warfare Center and St. Inigoes. The 
Fifth Congressional District's naval bases are critical facilities that 
help our nation meet the threats and challenges of a new century, and 
their geographic proximity to the nation's capital also makes them 
valuable homeland security assets as well. I would like to take the 
observation of ``Navy Day'' to salute their efforts and to acknowledge 
the vital roles and important military capabilities performed at these 
three facilities.
  Navy Day was established on October 27, 1922 by the Navy League of 
the United States. October 27 was suggested by the Navy League to 
recognize Theodore Roosevelt's birthday. Roosevelt had been an 
Assistant Secretary of the Navy and supported a strong Navy as well as 
the idea of Navy Day. In addition, October 27 was the anniversary of a 
1775 report issued by a special committee of the Continental Congress 
favoring the purchase of merchant ships as the foundation of an 
American Navy.
  As a community, we owe special thanks to the members of the naval 
family that sacrifice their own safety to protect our nation. They 
define the spirit of public service and we are grateful for their past 
and present services. Over the past several months, in Iraq and around 
the world, their purpose has been the protection and security of our 
people, and the promotion of peace, stability and the rule of law in 
Iraq, the Middle East and the international community, and they should 
know that a grateful nation supports their service and sacrifice.
  We celebrate Navy Day in commemoration of past and present servicemen 
and women of the Navy as they have fought the enemies of freedom and 
prevailed. Their courage and resolve is fundamental to our security and 
way of life. Navy Day gives us the opportunity to appreciate their 
achievements and gain inspiration from their bravery. They succeed 
because they are dedicated to the values of this country and to its 
national security in the face of global terrorism.
  The Navy plays a key role in the lives of thousands of Maryland 
residents, and thus I continue to place the future of the Navy in 
Maryland as one of my highest priorities. As the Department of Defense, 
the White House and Congress prepare for the next round of base 
closings in 2005, I am certain that the overwhelming support of the 
community, the important three-way partnership between federal, state, 
and local officials necessary to protect this powerful economic engine 
for the state, and the valuable homeland security assets of these bases 
prove the important contributions to our nation's defense and 
prosperity of Southern Maryland's defense installations.
  May God continue to bless our country and may God continue to bless 
the men and women of the fifth districts Naval bases.

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