[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Page 17197]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    NATIONAL VETERANS AWARENESS WEEK

  The resolution (S. Res. 401) designating the week of November 7 
through November 13, 2004, as ``National Veterans Awareness Week'' to 
emphasize the need to develop educational programs regarding the 
contributions of veterans to the country was considered and agreed to, 
as follows:

                              S. Res. 401

       Whereas tens of millions of Americans have served in the 
     Armed Forces of the United States during the past century;
       Whereas hundreds of thousands of Americans have given their 
     lives while serving in the Armed Forces during the past 
     century;
       Whereas the contributions and sacrifices of the men and 
     women who served in the Armed Forces have been vital in 
     maintaining the freedoms and way of life enjoyed by the 
     people of the United States;
       Whereas the advent of the all-volunteer Armed Forces has 
     resulted in a sharp decline in the number of individuals and 
     families who have had any personal connection with the Armed 
     Forces;
       Whereas this reduction in familiarity with the Armed Forces 
     has resulted in a marked decrease in the awareness by young 
     people of the nature and importance of the accomplishments of 
     those who have served in the Armed Forces, despite the 
     current educational efforts of the Department of Veterans 
     Affairs and the veterans service organizations;
       Whereas the system of civilian control of the Armed Forces 
     makes it essential that the future leaders of the Nation 
     understand the history of military action and the 
     contributions and sacrifices of those who conduct such 
     actions; and
       Whereas, on November 10, 2003, President George W. Bush 
     issued a proclamation urging all the people of the United 
     States to observe November 9 through November 15, 2003, as 
     ``National Veterans Awareness Week'': Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved,

     SECTION 1. NATIONAL VETERANS AWARENESS WEEK.

       (a) Sense of the Senate.--It is the sense of the Senate 
     that the President should designate the week of November 7 
     through November 13, 2004, as ``National Veterans Awareness 
     Week''.
       (b) Proclamation.--The Senate requests the President to 
     issue a proclamation--
       (1) designating the week of November 7 through November 13, 
     2004, as ``National Veterans Awareness Week'' for the purpose 
     of emphasizing educational efforts directed at elementary and 
     secondary school students concerning the contributions and 
     sacrifices of veterans; and
       (2) calling on the people of the United States to observe 
     National Veterans Awareness Week with appropriate educational 
     activities.

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