[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 19]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 27120]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   IN HONOR OF THE 2003 DALLAS VETERANS DAY PARADE AND PARADE GRAND 
                       MARSHALL HON. SAM JOHNSON

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. PETE SESSIONS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 4, 2003

  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 2003 Dallas 
Veterans Day Parade and the Parade Grand Marshall, our friend and 
colleague Congressman Sam Johnson (Texas-3rd). We are honored to be 
here alongside our proud veterans and their caring supportive families 
who have made their country proud time and time again. It is important 
to recognize our veterans today. However, veterans should be honored 
everyday for their selfless sacrifices, not just simply only on 
Veterans Day.
  The 2003 parade will pay special tribute to the 30th Anniversary of 
the return of Prisoners of War from Vietnam. Dallas CAN! Academy has 
prepared a special float in honor of these Vietnam POWs. In addition to 
the return of the Vietnam POWs, the 100th Year of Flight and the 50th 
Anniversary of the end of the Korean War are also given special 
recognition in the parade.
  The 2003 Dallas Veterans Day Parade is also proud to welcome home and 
honor our nation's latest veterans. Today we pay tribute to many of the 
fine men and women that served in combat during military Operations 
Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Iraqi Freedom in Iraq and that have 
safely returned home. During this critical and turbulent time for our 
world, we continue to pray and ask for the blessings of our servicemen 
and woman who are currently serving in Afghanistan, Iraq, and 
throughout the rest of the world in service to our beloved nation.
  We would like to congratulate our colleague Congressman Sam Johnson 
for serving as the Parade Grand Marshall for this outstanding annual 
Dallas tradition. Honoring a great American hero like Congressman Sam 
Johnson is especially appropriate with the Parade's special tribute to 
the 30th Anniversary of the return of our POWs from Vietnam. 
Congressman Johnson, after graduating from Southern Methodist 
University, began his 29 year career with the United States Air Force. 
Our colleague flew 62 combat missions during the war in Korea and was 
shot down on his 25th sortie during Vietnam. Sam was captured and held 
as a prisoner of war for over 7 years, with half of this time being 
spent in solitary confinement. His courage and strength serves as an 
inspiration to our veterans and current servicemen and woman, and we 
are proud to serve with him today in the House.
  The Parade's military keynote speaker, Lieutenant General Thomas P. 
Stafford is a veteran astronaut and we are delighted to hear his 
remarks. General Stafford went into space on two Gemini missions and 
later commanded Apollo Ten. General Stafford served as the U.S. 
Commander for the Apollo-Soyuz rendezvous in 1975.
  We would like to thank one of our favorite native sons for being with 
us here today for the Parade, General T. Michael ``Buzz'' Moseley, Vice 
Chief of Staff for the United States Air Force. General Moseley is a 
loyal Aggie alum, having served in the Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M. He 
is a distinguished officer and aviator, and is a true leader for the 
Air Force.
  We appreciate the assistance of current military units that will be 
participating in the parade all of the local business and community 
leaders for their financial support. Thank you Congressman Johnson for 
your service to America, and God Bless our current men and women in 
uniform and all those that have preceded them in service to the 
country.

                          ____________________