[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 12288-12289]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          TRIBUTE TO OLD GLORY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. DAVID G. REICHERT

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 11, 2008

  Mr. REICHERT. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of the journey of 
remembrance our Nation's flag has made over the past 6 months, which 
culminated on Memorial Day when it flew over the Capitol and 
specifically the National Moment of Remembrance at 3 p.m. that day.
  The flag's journey started December 7, 2007, in Hawaii to mark the 
66th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. The flag made a stop on 
Christmas Eve in Washington's Eighth District, at Tahoma National 
Cemetery in Kent, Washington. During its journey, Old Glory traveled to 
28 different locations in 20 States, being flown over a significant 
memorial site at every stop. The journey of our Nation's flag is a 
wonderful way for this body and for citizens throughout this country to 
remember the sacrifices of millions of men and women in service to our 
great Nation.
  Ordinary men and women have done extraordinary things time and again 
to preserve the values and beliefs that make the United States a 
wonderful country. Their brave sacrifices will never be forgotten or 
overlooked. As we speak, men and women are fighting for freedom and 
justice and helping to preserve peace in foreign lands throughout the 
world. Their remarkable sacrifices are being made not for personal gain 
or fame, but because of deep-seeded patriotism. That American spirit is 
alive and well and will preserve this Nation for years to come.
  On behalf of my constituents in the Eighth District of Washington, I 
want to take this moment to honor the service of our many soldiers, 
sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen. Their sacrifices allow 
Old Glory to fly. On Memorial Day, citizens throughout this country 
united to reflect on the valor and sacrifice we honor, and it is my 
hope that we carry that spirit every day of the year.

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