[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 20]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 28323]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING OUR VETERANS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RAHM EMANUEL

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, November 7, 2003

  Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize and pay tribute to 
America's heroic veterans. I am proud to represent over 34,000 veterans 
who live in the Fifth Congressional District of Illinois. As we observe 
Veterans Day this year, perhaps there is no greater time in American 
history to reflect on what it means to be a veteran.
  Our country's sense of security is being defended by the soldiers 
fighting the global war on terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan. Through 
the example of the brave men and women in uniform who fought during 
World War Il, the Korean War, the Vietnam War or the Gulf War, today's 
troops know they can and will persevere even as they face extended 
tours of duty and grueling and frightening conditions on a daily basis.
  There is no better way to honor those who sacrificed their lives for 
our country than by ensuring that today's veterans are treated with 
dignity and respect. We must do that with more than words and symbolic 
gestures of patriotism. We must honor the soldiers, marines, sailors 
and airmen of wars past and present by ensuring that the covenant they 
entered when they donned the uniform and served our country is 
maintained. Regardless of the economic climate, this nation must keep 
its promises to veterans to provide the health care, education, and 
financial benefits our veterans have earned.
  Mr. Speaker, next week when I join veterans in the 5th District at 
the Franklin Park U.S. Military Armed Forces Veterans Memorial, the 
Northcenter Flag-Raising Ceremony, and the Mayfair Community Veterans 
Memorial, I will thank our veterans for their service, sacrifice and 
commitment to duty to protect the freedom that we enjoy. I will also 
thank the families of those brave men and women in uniform who will 
become our nation's newest veterans upon their return. We will always 
remember their valor and service to America.
  I thank our veterans one and all for their service, sacrifice, and 
commitment to duty, which has been to stand vigilant and strong while 
protecting the freedom that we enjoy. I also thank the families of 
those brave men and women in uniform who will become our Nation's most 
recent veterans upon their return. We will always remember the valor 
and service to America.

                          ____________________