[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Page 11533]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           MEMORIAL DAY 2005

  Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I rise to recognize the significance of 
Memorial Day and to remember the Americans it commemorates. In just a 
few days, we will come together as a Nation to pay tribute to the 
courageous men and women who fought and died for our country. Too often 
we take for granted the freedoms we, as Americans, enjoy, too often we 
forget those who gave their lives to secure this liberty.
  America has honored its fallen soldiers with a Memorial Day, 
sometimes called Decoration Day, since the Civil War. Though we are 
grateful to these heroes each and every day, it was recognized that we 
should set aside 1 day in particular, the last Monday in May, to be 
especially mindful of the brave soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines 
who paid the ultimate price for their fellow citizens.
  During a time when we continue to lose more of our friends, family 
and neighbors in combat overseas, I am especially mindful of the 
sacrifices made by our men and women in the military. I served in World 
War II, and I have seen firsthand the bravery and selflessness that is 
a common thread in our military personnel. Though I was lucky enough to 
return home, not a day passes when I do not think of my comrades who 
were not as fortunate, and I am eternally grateful to them.
  On this earnest occasion, I would like to draw attention to what we 
can do for those veteran soldiers still with us so that we do not 
disrespect the sacrifices made by those we have lost. We must provide 
full funding for veterans' health care. Every year the President sends 
forward his budget proposal to Congress, and every year we go through 
the same struggle to get VA health care the money it needs to 
adequately serve its veteran patients. We must change the way funds are 
allocated so that all of our veterans are guaranteed the care they so 
clearly deserve.
  I want the 115,000 veterans who choose to make Hawaii their home to 
be assured that they will receive the services they have earned. The 
nearly 18,000 veterans who avail themselves of VA health care on Oahu, 
the Big Island, Kauai, and Maui should not have to worry if resources 
for doctors and nurses will materialize next year. The reservists and 
guardsmen who are deployed for the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan 
also must receive the care they need upon their return. And the fact 
that a whole population of veterans is denied care because VA does not 
have adequate funding is shameful.
  Memorial Day is a day of both sorrow and joy. We mourn those we have 
lost in battle, and we celebrate the freedoms we currently enjoy thanks 
to those brave individuals. As we gather together over the long weekend 
to celebrate this important holiday, let us make sure to take a moment 
to remember and thank those who lost their lives in order to secure our 
futures. Then, for the rest of our tenure in Congress, let us not 
waiver from the commitments made to these brave men and women in terms 
of programs, services and benefits.

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