[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Pages 5939-5940]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           HONORING BOB DOLE

  Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, I am a firm believer in the view that an 
individual can make a difference. I am a firm believer that what 
happens in Washington, DC, is important in our Nation's history and 
what goes on in our country, but the reality is we change the world one 
person at a time. That individual is how we make life better.
  Earlier this week, on Tuesday morning, I was on the National Mall 
near the World War II Memorial, and I was there for the dedication of a 
plaque honoring an individual who made a tremendous difference in the 
lives of many and made a tremendous difference in the life of our 
Nation. It was the moment in which a plaque was unveiled recognizing 
Senator Bob Dole

[[Page 5940]]

for his contribution--in fact, his efforts and leadership--in seeing 
that the World War II Memorial was built. Clear from those who spoke 
and from what I know of the subject, the World War II Memorial would 
not be available for us as a nation today in the absence of that 
individual, Bob Dole, who led the efforts.
  There is much in Bob Dole's career here in Washington, DC, as a 
Member of this body, of the U.S. Senate, that we can heap accolades 
upon him for, but certainly one of them I know he is most proud of and 
certainly one of them I and the American people are most grateful for 
is his efforts to recognize the 16 million Americans who served their 
country in World War II. There are only about 2.5 million Americans who 
served in World War II now living, and we lose hundreds of them every 
day.
  Last week, I was at the World War II Memorial with Kansas World War 
II veterans welcoming an honor flight and thanking World War II 
veterans from my home State for their service to our country. The World 
War II Memorial is a magnificent tribute to the sacrifice many have 
made before us.
  I saw the World War II Memorial. It serves its purpose. I saw the 
World War II Memorial before it was ever dedicated. I put my walking 
shoes on and walked down to the World War II Memorial a few days before 
the official ceremony back in 2004, and I saw the place that says 
``Kansas,'' and I thought about Kansans.
  I thought of my own dad, who is a World War II veteran who served in 
northern Africa and up the boothill of Italy. I tell this story because 
the World War II Memorial served its purpose. I walked away from the 
memorial and used my cell phone to call my dad back home in Plainville, 
KS. Unfortunately, I got the answering machine at my parents' home, but 
from a son's point of view, I conveyed the message to my dad: Dad, I am 
at the World War II Memorial. I respect you, I thank you for your 
service, and I love you. It is something that sons don't often say to 
their parents, but it is something that we as Americans--something that 
the World War II Memorial brings out in us not just to our parents but 
to all World War II veterans: We respect you, we thank you for your 
service, and we love you.
  We had the opportunity on Tuesday to pay tribute to a special World 
War II veteran, Bob Dole. One of the aspects of Bob Dole's service to 
his country certainly in the military as well as here in the Senate, 
here as an American, was to take care of those who served with him, and 
not only in World War II. He has been the caring and compassionate 
guide for all of us as we try to make certain that no military service 
goes unrewarded and that no commitment that was made to those who serve 
our country is forgotten.
  So I am here today to pay tribute really to all World War II 
veterans, to all our military men and women now serving, and to those 
veterans of other wars, but to especially pay tribute to Bob Dole, who 
recognized and continues to recognize throughout his life the value of 
service to country and the value of service to other veterans. That 
plaque is a special reminder that Bob Dole made it possible for all of 
us as Americans to pay tribute to that generation and is a loving 
reminder for those who served that we are a grateful nation. It is 
important that we never forget those who gave us the opportunities to 
live the lives we live today.
  While there are, again, much for which we could congratulate him and 
express our gratitude to him, I hold him in the highest esteem for his 
military service.
  Sixty-six years ago today, April 14, 1945, young Bob Dole was wounded 
in northern Italy. He lay on the field in blood and mud for 9 hours. He 
was rescued. He was returned to home. The people of his hometown raised 
money. I still remember the photograph of a cigar box in the drugstore 
into which people back in those difficult times put their dollars and 
their quarters and their pennies to raise money for Bob Dole's 
rehabilitation. He was able to access the services in Battle Creek, MI, 
of a VA hospital.
  Amazingly to me, three future Senators who served in World War II 
ended up in that hospital at the same time. Our own colleague Senator 
Inouye, our previous colleague Senator Hart, and our previous colleague 
Bob Dole were all at the hospital at the same time recovering from 
their wounds in service to their country.
  So it is today that I recognize an aspect of Bob Dole's life--most 
important, his willingness to sacrifice his life and his service to his 
country as a member of the 10th Mountain Division; his courage and 
dedication to his ability to reteach himself, to relearn to write, to 
bathe, to eat, to become a productive member of our society, and to 
lead our country in so many ways. I was honored to be present on 
Tuesday, 2 days ago, in which a grateful nation said: We thank you for 
your efforts in recognizing other veterans, in the creation and 
development of the efforts to see that the World War II Memorial, so 
long in waiting, is now on the National Mall.
  Tom Brokaw, the author of the book ``The Greatest Generation,'' was 
the master of ceremonies on Tuesday, and he concluded his remarks on 
Tuesday morning by telling the story of Bob Dole raising money for the 
World War II Memorial. There are no public funds, no Treasury funds in 
the building of that memorial. Senator Dole and others raised the 
dollars from private sources to build the memorial. He tells the story 
of Bob Dole going to California and meeting with a wealthy Hollywood 
mogul asking for money to build the World War II Memorial. According to 
Tom Brokaw, the mogul said, ``I am not interested. I have other 
priorities.'' Bob Dole's response to the mogul, to the noncontributor, 
was, ``When I was 22, I had other priorities too. I went to war.'' Bob 
Dole went to war and served his country every day thereafter.
  Senator Dole in his remarks concluded by saying, ``I am the most 
optimistic man in America today.'' We ought to be optimistic because we 
have individuals such as Bob Dole who have served our country. Today we 
recognize that service, 66 years ago, April 14, 1945, in northern 
Italy.
  I yield the floor, and I note the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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