[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21306]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 RONALD REAGAN'S VOICE OF FREEDOM PARK

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN A. BOEHNER

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 5, 2004

  Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend my neighbors in 
Butler County, Ohio for renaming a park at the former site of the Voice 
of America's Bethany station ``Ronald Reagan's Voice of Freedom Park.'' 
This park is enjoyed by Butler County families each and every day, and 
it has been made all the more special by the fact that it is located on 
the same spot from where Voice of America broadcasts originated from 
1944 to 1994.
   In many ways, this ``name change'' isn't much of a ``name change'' 
at all. Ronald Reagan was and in many ways still is the Voice of 
America.
   It's that voice which brought us back from the Vietnam era and the 
malaise of the 1970s. It's that voice that urged Mr. Gorbachev to 
``tear down this wall.'' And it's that voice that ended the Cold War 
through his policy of ``peace through strength.''
   So, we're not marking the end of one name for this park and 
beginning of a new one. Instead, we're celebrating the passage of title 
from one Cold War messenger of freedom to another. Ronald Reagan 
recognized what an effective and influential tool the Voice of America 
was in our battle to end the Cold War. In fact, in 1983 he delivered an 
address via Voice of America, in which he outlined his vision for long-
term negotiations with the Soviet Union. He recognized the vital role 
Voice of America played in our struggle against the Soviets, and he 
used it to the advantage of our nation and our fight for freedom.
   Last week, another American President--George W. Bush--spoke in that 
park. He spoke of a different battle--this time against the evils of 
terrorism--in which we are currently engaged. Just like the Cold War, 
it will be a long struggle--but one which we know we will win. Why? 
Because we have the same message of freedom on our side that we did 
when Reagan and the Voice of America led us to victory against 
communism. And so that message of freedom and the Voice of America 
continues, in that park and across the globe.
   Mr. Speaker, I thank my friends back home in Butler County who were 
involved in the effort to place President Reagan's name on the park. In 
this year of tributes to a man I know as a hero, I can think of very 
few higher than this one.

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