[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 4]
[House]
[Pages 5863-5864]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BAY OF PIGS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning to commemorate the 
50th anniversary of the Bay of Pigs operation.
  On April 17, 1961, the anticommunist patriots of Brigade 2506 were 
determined to help their homeland and their loved ones who were living 
under a repressive regime. Even though the operation was not 
successful, the dedication and the commitment that these brave 
individuals illustrated during the conflict was exceptional. During the 
operation, one hero was asked if he wished to be evacuated, and he 
said, ``I will never leave this country.'' These individuals showed a 
strong sense of heroism as they were up against the repressive regime's 
armed forces.
  President Ronald Reagan was a longstanding supporter of individuals 
taking action to free themselves from oppressive socialist and 
communist regimes. When referring to the Bay of Pigs, President Reagan 
stated, ``By supporting courageous freedom fighters around the world, 
we're shining a light on the path out from communism.''
  These heroes reached the beaches of Playa Giron to fight against 
communism in Cuba that was being supported by the Soviet Union during 
the Cold War. The evil empire made a strong push into Cuba that became 
a national security threat to the United States.
  A strong Soviet Union presence in Cuba led to the Cuban Missile 
Crisis. The intrusion cemented the dangers of the Soviet Union having 
very close ties to the Cuban regime. Democracy and liberty of the 
people in the Western Hemisphere were in severe jeopardy as the 
communist forces were looking to expand their control. But the will of 
freedom-loving people who seek a better future will not be deterred by 
the evils and the power of communism. The protection of human rights 
and freedom of expression are fundamental necessities under a free 
society.
  As the spread of communism crumbled during the Cold War, democracies 
throughout the Western Hemisphere flourished in open societies. 
However, the United States must remain vigilant that history does not 
repeat itself.
  At this moment, Russia is currently infiltrating the Western 
Hemisphere by joining forces with antidemocratic tyrants such as 
Chavez, Ortega, and Morales. Recently, reports have indicated that 
Russia has sold $15 billion worth of weapons and military equipment to 
Chavez. In addition, senior Russian military officials have mentioned 
the possibility of establishing refueling bases for Russian bombers in 
Cuba. Russian activities in the Western Hemisphere raise serious 
concerns as they are arming rogue regimes that are counter to the 
interests and the security of our beloved Nation.
  The veterans of the Bay of Pigs symbolized this struggle between 
communism and freedom. The brave Brigade 2506 patriots decided to risk 
their very lives in order to liberate an oppressed society. These men 
fought courageously on that historic day. They came from many 
backgrounds, but all of them cared about freedom and liberty for the 
people of Cuba.

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  Even though the Bay of Pigs operation was not successful, their call 
to serve rose again to protect our Nation from enemies abroad. Many of 
these veterans continued to serve the United States by joining our 
Armed Forces and fighting with honor during the Vietnam War.
  I would like to acknowledge all individuals who consistently are 
working toward fulfilling the dreams of a free Cuba, which is the dream 
of the veterans of Brigade 2506 who aspired and fought for a free and 
democratic Cuba.
  I would also like to recognize the veterans of the Bay of Pigs who 
are with us today in the gallery. Gentlemen, thank you very much for 
your sacrifice and your commitment for a free Cuba and a strong United 
States.

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