[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 5877]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               62ND ANNIVERSARY OF ISRAEL'S INDEPENDENCE

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                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 20, 2010

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise in recognition of the 
62nd anniversary of Israel's independence. I have always been deeply 
moved by the duality of Israel's independence celebration, at once both 
sorrowful and triumphant.
  On one day--Yom Hazikaron, Israel's Memorial Day--Israel honors those 
who gave their lives defending their families, their neighbors, their 
communities, their people, and their country. Israel today recognizes 
even those who died before the state was officially declared in 1948. 
This year Israel honors 22,684 soldiers killed in the line of duty, and 
another 1,750 civilian victims of terrorism. These brave men and women 
died in service to the foundational belief of Israel: That in their 
ancient homeland the Jewish people can live in freedom.
  But by the dawn of the morning following Yom Hazikaron, Israel 
exchanges tears of sadness for tears of joy, celebrating their official 
day of independence--the declaration of the State of Israel by David 
Ben Gurion in 1948. I know of no other country that combines such deep 
sadness with such unrelenting delight.
  For 62 years now, Israel has stood as a vibrant democracy and a 
symbol of hope for millions of people around the world. For 62 years 
Israel has modeled a society where determination and passion, and an 
emphasis on social progress and education, can build a productive 
nation.
  Madam Speaker, I have been to Israel 14 times as a Member of 
Congress, and every time I go I encounter ordinary citizens and 
government officials alike who are genuinely dedicated to living up to 
the ideals of Israel's independence. I am always impressed by the 
Israelis' intense desire to persevere. Israel deserves to be secure and 
prosperous, to live in peace with its neighbors, and to live free from 
fear and violence.
  I look forward to returning to Israel in the near future, and on 
congratulating Israel again on its 63rd birthday . . . and its 64th, 
and 65th, and all the years after that.

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