[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6440]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     THE CONGRESSIONAL YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL: A LEGACY OF SERVICE

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                            HON. SAM JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 27, 2010

  Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I ask my fellow colleagues 
to join me in congratulating the 2009-2010 Congressional Youth Advisory 
Council. This year 45 students from public, private, and home schools 
in grades 9 through 12 made their voices heard and made a difference in 
their communities, their country and their Congress. These students 
volunteered their time, effort, and talent to inform me about the 
important issues facing their generation. As young leaders within their 
communities and their schools, these students boldly represent the 
promise and the hope we all have for their very bright future.
  President Ronald Reagan said, ``Freedom is never more than one 
generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in 
the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for 
them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling 
our children and our children's children what it was once like in the 
United States where men were free.''
  To ensure that the blessing of freedom is passed from one generation 
to the next, the members of the CYAC spent time interviewing a veteran 
and documenting the experience for the ``Preserving History Project.'' 
Today I'm proud to submit the brief summaries provided so the patriotic 
service of our dedicated veterans and the thoughtful work of the CYAC 
may be preserved for antiquity in the Congressional Record. A copy of 
each submitted student summary follows.
  To each member of the Congressional Youth Advisory Council, thank you 
for making this year and this group a success. It is not a coincidence 
that this congressional tribute celebrates two generations of service. 
Each of you is trusted with the precious gift of freedom.
  You are the voices of the future and I salute you. God bless you and 
God bless America.
  The summary follows:

       In the interview I conducted, I conversed with former Air 
     Force Captain Wayne R. Thompson. He served the United States 
     from 1960-1963 during the time when Cold War tensions were 
     greatest. Stationed at NORAD in Colorado Springs, he was in 
     charge of emergency power, and he also participated in 
     different construction projects. At one point, during the 
     Cuban Missile Crisis, he slept for three days at the base 
     because an attack seemed imminent. There were many false 
     alarms, and many times he did not know if he would make it. 
     Luckily, for the United States and him, no nuclear weapons 
     were fired, and Kennedy resolved the situation. Thompson 
     learned a lot from his stay in the military as he said that 
     the experience helped him build character and leadership. The 
     camaraderie that he felt with his fellow comrades was his 
     favorite part of being in the military. The bonds that they 
     shared were tighter than any other because they were all 
     united with a common purpose. From the interview, I learned a 
     lot about joining the armed forces. His experiences proved to 
     me that by serving the country, one can really gain the 
     skills and character traits to be successful in life. I fully 
     respect Thompson and his commitment to serving the nation.--
     Kenny Lee

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