[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Pages 11966-11967]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               CELEBRATING THE 233RD BIRTHDAY OF THE ARMY

  Mr. BROWN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now 
proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 590, submitted earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 590) celebrating the 233rd birthday 
     of the Army and commending the men and women of the Army as 
     exceptional individuals who live by the Army values of 
     loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, 
     and personal courage.


[[Page 11967]]


  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. AKAKA. Mr President, today Senator Inhofe and I celebrate the 
Army's 233rd birthday. For over two centuries, the Army has fought to 
preserve the principles of democracy not only here in the United States 
but around the world.
  Our Nation's Army soldiers have served this Nation with honesty, 
courage, and dignity, and it is my privilege to take this opportunity 
to commemorate its birth. Both in times of peace, and in times of war, 
the U.S. Army has answered the call of duty and responded to the 
challenge of defending our Nation. All of our Army units, Active, Guard 
and Reserve, share the heritage of the first Continental Army which 
fought so valiantly to ensure the birth of a nation founded on the 
ideals of justice and freedom.
  Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, the commitment and duty of the Army 
soldiers who have risked their lives to preserve our freedom have left 
an indelible mark on this Nation. During the Army's 233-year history, 
tens of thousands of these brave men and women have sacrificed their 
lives on distant battlefields to keep our Nation safe. I salute them 
for their service to this country.
  Mr. AKAKA. My colleague Senator Inhofe and I also want to pay tribute 
to the families of those soldiers who risk their lives for our Nation. 
Too often the important role that families play goes unacknowledged but 
their faith and devotion are vital to the Army's success. The families 
of our soldiers have my deepest appreciation for the sacrifices they 
make and for the support they give our troops.
  Mr. INHOFE. As this Nation continues to fight in the global war on 
terror, the Army has been key to providing the capabilities it needs to 
persist in its struggle for liberty and democracy. Through the efforts 
of the U.S. Armys the world has been made a more secure, prosperous, 
and better place for all of mankind. The courage and dedication of 
these soldiers are an inspiration to us all, and may the rest of us 
endeavor to be ``Army strong'' in our own lives.
  Mr. BROWN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution 
be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider 
be laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 590) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 590

       Whereas, from the first Continental Army under General 
     Washington at Yorktown to the beaches of Normandy, the city 
     streets of Iraq, and the mountains of Afghanistan, the Army 
     has protected and kept the flame of democracy burning 
     brightly;
       Whereas the citizens of the United States continue to enjoy 
     the benefits of freedom and democracy because the men and 
     women of the Army have stood through adversity, remained 
     steadfast in the most difficult of circumstances, and bravely 
     fought against the enemies of peace throughout the world;
       Whereas the sacrifices of the men and women of the Army 
     inspire and instill great pride in all citizens of the United 
     States;
       Whereas the active duty, National Guard, and Reserve 
     components of the Army protect the Nation from our enemies, 
     defend our vital national interests, provide support to civil 
     authorities in response to domestic emergencies, provide 
     ready forces and land force capabilities to the Combatant 
     Commanders in support of the National Security Strategy, and 
     support operations around the world, ranging from peace-time 
     military engagements to major combat operations;
       Whereas the Army is successfully performing operations, 
     other than combat operations, including--
       (1) supporting the defense of South Korea, Japan, and many 
     other friends, allies, and partners of the United States;
       (2) conducting peacekeeping operations in the Sinai 
     Peninsula and the Balkans;
       (3) conducting multinational exercises that reflect our 
     longstanding commitments to alliances;
       (4) continuing engagements with foreign militaries to build 
     partnerships and preserve coalitions by training and advising 
     their military forces;
       (5) participating, most notably by the Army National Guard, 
     in securing the borders of the United States and conducting 
     operations to counter the flow of illegal drugs;
       (6) supporting civil authorities in responding to domestic 
     emergencies, including natural disasters and threats at home 
     and abroad;
       (7) supporting interagency and multinational partnerships 
     with technical expertise, providing critical support after 
     natural disasters, and promoting regional stability; and
       (8) supporting operations to protect against weapons of 
     mass destruction and block their proliferation;
       Whereas the accomplishments of the Army are attributable to 
     the men and women of the Army who have demonstrated courage, 
     strength, and versatility and endured countless hardships and 
     made great sacrifices in performing diverse missions 
     worldwide;
       Whereas the contributions of Army families should also be 
     recognized, as Army families provide the cornerstone of 
     strength and support for the Nation's Soldiers and display 
     tremendous commitment and sacrifice to the Nation by 
     providing critical support to their loved ones during 
     prolonged absences;
       Whereas the Army has been continuously engaged in 
     persistent combat operations for more than 6 years, has 
     constantly and successfully adapted to ever-changing security 
     environments, has displayed courage, resourcefulness, and 
     resilience in the most grueling conditions, and, while 
     focused on preparing forces and building readiness for 
     counterinsurgency operations and providing stability, 
     security, and hope to the peoples of Iraq and Afghanistan, 
     has taken significant steps toward restoring balance to the 
     all-volunteer, battle-hardened force; and
       Whereas those and countless other great accomplishments add 
     to the longstanding tradition of the Army and attest to the 
     extraordinary capability of the men and women who serve the 
     United States in the Army: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) celebrates the 233rd birthday of the Army;
       (2) salutes the men and women of the Army and their 
     families;
       (3) commends the men and women of the Army as exceptional 
     individuals who live by the Army values of loyalty, duty, 
     respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal 
     courage; and
       (4) recognizes that the great men and women of the Army are 
     the reason it continues to stand as the best army in the 
     world and continues to perform extraordinary tasks while 
     upholding its hallowed traditions.

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