[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 7]
[House]
[Page 9513]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING OUR VETERANS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Scott) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, this week as we begin to go into 
this weekend to celebrate Memorial Day, it is most fitting that we take 
a moment to say a word about our soldiers, those who have fallen, who 
have given their lives in battle for the protection of this country and 
the enhancement of freedom around the world. And so it is with great 
pleasure and honor that I start this recognition off recognizing the 
great courage and work of our soldiers.
  From the Revolutionary War, as we recall, many soldiers who gave 
their lives to start the foundation of this country, many of those 
soldiers whose portraits hang in this great Capitol, several of those 
soldiers who walked with bloody feet through Valley Forge through the 
winter because we could not get them the proper boots to wear. But they 
went on and they fought against the odds and brought freedom and 
started this country; to the War of 1812; all the way through the Civil 
War, where brother fought against brother; the greatest contests in war 
that proved the metal of this country, up through the Spanish American 
War and World War I and World War II. From the halls of Montezuma, to 
the shores of Tripoli, our soldiers have been there for us. The Korean 
War and on down through the Vietnam War, maybe not popular, but the 
soldiers went where they were called and performed admirably; through 
Desert Storm and now in the sandy storms of Iraq.
  Mr. Speaker, I was just in Iraq in January, and one of the most 
memorable experiences I had during that trip was I was able to meet 
with our soldiers. And there was one soldier that, as I was in Camp 
Victory in Baghdad, who grabbed me and was hugging me so hard. Tears 
were coming down his eyes, tears coming down mine. And he said some 
words to me I will never forget. He said, Congressman Scott, when I am 
hugging you, it is like I am hugging a piece of home.
  I never will forget that. And 3 weeks ago, that soldier was killed. 
And so, oftentimes, we go about our business, and oftentimes, we take 
our freedoms for granted. But that is why we have Memorial Day, to say 
to those who have given their lives for this country, for our freedom 
domestic, thank you. Because there is no greater love than the one that 
would give his life for another. To all the men and women in uniform, 
to all who have served this country, we say thank you on this, the 
beginning of the celebration of Memorial Day.

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