[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 6]
[House]
[Pages 8436-8437]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     ARMY CELEBRATES 237TH BIRTHDAY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Carter) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. CARTER. Mr. Speaker, as the Army Caucus cochairs, my colleague 
and I rise today in celebration of the United States Army's upcoming 
237th birthday. Since June 14, 1775, when the first company was formed 
to defend our great country against the British, the brave men and 
women of the Army have upheld the seven core values of this strong 
brotherhood. Those values are: loyalty, duty, respect, selfless 
service, honor, integrity, and personal courage.
  Today, the Army stands over one million strong. We pause to salute 
the soldiers and fallen warriors of 237 years past whose legacies our 
soldiers strive to uphold. We pause to thank them for their service and 
sacrifice in every conflict in war in the history of our Nation. And we 
pause to thank the families of our soldiers for their continuing 
support of our Nation's defenders during these critical times.

[[Page 8437]]

  The past decade has proven the Army as a leader in the war against 
terrorism, tyrannical leadership, and oppression in the Middle East, 
where you, the Army, have given countless millions of people hope for 
their future while at the same time making America more secure and a 
grateful Nation. Your actions on and off the field of battle have and 
will continue to inspire us all for generations to come.
  From Iraq and Afghanistan, across Europe and the Pacific Rim, the men 
and women of the United States Army represent the best of America's 
ideals and the finest of her dreams. You are the very best at what you 
do. Your resilience, courage, professionalism, and battle-hardened ways 
will seize the day against any enemy of our great and powerful Nation.
  We cannot thank you enough for what you do, your devotion to duty, 
and your tireless efforts in the defense of our Nation. Thank you for 
always putting the mission first, never accepting defeat, and never 
quitting. For 237 years you have made it perfectly clear that no matter 
who rises up against our country, there's one thing that will never 
change: you always have been and will continue to be Army strong.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to my good friend and cochair, Mr. Reyes.

                              {time}  1030

  Mr. REYES. I want to thank my colleague and fellow cochair from the 
Army Caucus, Judge Carter, for yielding me the time to honor the United 
States Army on its 237th birthday.
  The Army, as my colleague has said, dates back to 1775. It has always 
stood tall, both in peacetime and in times of war, in times of conflict 
or police actions, which means that our proud men and women in the Army 
have stood in harm's way to benefit freedom not just for our country, 
but throughout the world.
  Our Army has been at war now for over 10 years. Today it is battle 
tested, and it's proven itself once again. Our Army is over 1 million 
strong, composed of some of America's most dedicated and outstanding 
individuals. So today I'm proud to stand with my cochair to take a 
moment to recognize the men and women who have selflessly served our 
Army for the past 237 years, especially those who made the ultimate 
sacrifice defending our freedom and our American way of life. We pause 
to thank our soldiers and their families for their service and their 
commitment, which remain steadfast and strong.
  From the Revolutionary War to the current conflict in Afghanistan, 
our Army has triumphed over those who seek to harm our country. For 237 
years, the Army has always been relevant and remains a critical force 
for world freedom today. With the transformation of the Army to a 
leaner, lighter, and more lethal force, the United States Army will 
continue to be vital to our national security and to the national 
security of countries around the globe.
  As we plan for the future, let us reflect on the great legacy that 
the United States Army has given this great Nation through the men and 
women who were and are proud to be Americans. Our soldiers, 
noncommissioned officers, and officers of the United States Army are 
the most outstanding fighting force in our world. We cannot thank them 
enough for their dedication to excellence and their commitment to duty, 
honor, and country. And let us not forget their families who sacrifice 
for our national security as well. Their execution is unmatched, their 
commitment is unwavering, and their bond is unbreakable. I am proud to 
be part of that Army lineage, and this morning, as I wear this Army-
strong tribute, I salute our brave men and women who have made our Army 
great, but who have kept our country safe and secure and represent the 
global effort to maintain freedom around the world.
  So again, I am proud to stand with my cochair, Judge Carter, and pay 
tribute for the past 237 years of sacrifice to our great United States 
Army.

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