[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 8430]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 1627

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 31, 2011

  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 
1627, which establishes a new process for the placement of monuments at 
Arlington National Cemetery.
  In particular, I am so pleased that this legislation contains the 
formal Congressional approval for a monument to Jewish military 
chaplains for Chaplains Hill.
  For years, Arlington National Cemetery has showcased memorials for 
Catholic and Protestant chaplains, yet there has never been a monument 
for the Jewish chaplains who served in our military and made the 
ultimate sacrifice.
  Last year, a dedicated group of Jewish war veterans set out to make 
sure that the Jewish spiritual leaders were similarly honored in our 
Nation's military cemetery, and it is vital that Congress pass this 
legislation to make this memorial a reality.
  In particular, I want to highlight the story of the U.S.A.T. 
Dorchester in World War II.
  The ship suffered an explosion at sea while carrying more than 1,000 
soldiers and workers, including four Army chaplains.
  These four brave men, two Protestant, one Catholic, and one Jewish, 
gave up their life jackets to soldiers on board the ship.
  They stood strong, sharing words of healing and peace with those on 
board, and they resolutely held hands until the ship went down.
  This is a true story of faith and courage, and now, all four of these 
men will be honored together on Chaplains Hill.
  It could not be more fitting that Congress has taken up this 
legislation during Jewish American Heritage Month, a time to celebrate 
the contributions of American Jews to the dynamic cultural fabric of 
the United States.
  Honoring these Jewish military chaplains this week, in time for 
Memorial Day, is a meaningful way to show our appreciation for the 
commitment and sacrifice of our brave and dedicated veterans.