[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 8186]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         CONGRESSIONAL PORTUGUESE CAUCUS MEMORIAL DAY STATEMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. DENNIS A. CARDOZA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, June 1, 2012

  Mr. CARDOZA. Mr. Speaker, with respect and admiration I, along with 
my colleagues Mr. Costa, Ms. Lofgren, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Keating, Ms. 
Tsongas, Mr. Honda, and Mr. Cicilline, gather today to both celebrate 
the freedoms we enjoy as Americans, and to honor all the brave service 
men and women who have fallen defending those freedoms.
  To all the mothers, fathers, wives, husbands, and extended family 
members of those who have served, we offer our deepest gratitude. The 
sacrifice of your loved ones is a debt that can never be repaid.
  As members and friends of the Congressional Portuguese American 
Caucus, we would also like to pay special tribute to our soldiers of 
Portuguese descent who have made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our 
country. Portuguese Americans have served with distinction in our 
military forces from the revolutionary war to current conflicts in Iraq 
and Afghanistan, and I have no doubt they will continue to answer 
America's call into our future.
  On this Memorial Day, Americans everywhere join in honoring those we 
have lost. It is a time to recognize the sacrifices made to defend our 
country, and remember the freedoms and liberties for which our service 
members fought for.
  We honor you and all soldiers who have answered the call of duty and 
we send our profound appreciation to the families of our fallen heroes. 
As we reflect on the tragedy of those we have lost, we should realize 
our great fortune to live in a free country, and recognize the 
sacrifices required to defend it.

                          ____________________