[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 17821-17822]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                            THE PURPLE HEART

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 8, 2004

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, the Purple Heart is a decoration 
symbolizing true sacrifice in defense of the United States. Since the 
days of Gen. George Washington, the Purple Heart has decorated the 
uniforms of hundreds of thousands of American heroes, including those 
who have given the ultimate sacrifice for America's freedom.
  Last week in New York, at the national convention of our president's 
political party, the Purple Heart was mocked and disgraced in a 
tasteless display. Some delegates to this convention transformed the 
symbol of the Purple Heart into band-aids to minimize and diminish the 
wounds received in battle during the Vietnam War by their political 
opponent.
  With American men and women fighting and taking casualties in Iraq 
and Afghanistan today, the Purple Heart is not a band-aid or a joke, 
but a true symbol of sacrifice. My support for America's military's men 
and women and the veterans who have served this nation, given their 
blood and their lives for our freedom, is absolute. These heroes and 
the Purple Hearts which honor their sacrifice deserve our respect, 
never abuse or cynical displays of ridicule.

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