[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15656]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICAN VETERANS DISABLED 
                           FOR LIFE MEMORIAL

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. LOIS FRANKEL

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 5, 2015

  Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
one year anniversary of the dedication of the American Veterans 
Disabled for Life Memorial, a permanent reminder of the enduring 
sacrifices of our nation's veterans. The memorial was dedicated on 
October 5, 2014 to honor the more than 3.6 million men and women 
currently living with service-related disabilities.
  As a result of their service, many veterans are left permanently 
injured, ill or disabled. These men and women must face the challenges 
of living with visible and invisible burdens every day. Nearly 20 years 
ago, my friend and constituent Ms. Lois Pope, asked Art Wilson, 
National Adjutant of the Disabled American Veterans, if there is a 
place in Washington, D.C. where we honor disabled veterans. When Art 
responded that there was no such thing, Ms. Pope replied, ``We need to 
change that.'' Years later, thanks to the tireless work of Ms. Pope and 
the rest of the advocates at the Disabled Veterans' Life Memorial 
Foundation, this monument now ensures that we will never forget the 
sacrifices made by members of the United States Armed Forces.
  I would also like to recognize broad support across Congress for 
honoring disabled veterans on October 5th of each year. The anniversary 
of the memorial's dedication provides an opportunity to express 
appreciation for the men and women who suffer from service-connected 
disabilities and to recognize their enduring struggles. Today, October 
5, 2015, a screening of the documentary film ``Debt of Honor'' in 
Washington, D.C. will depict the realities of living with wartime 
sacrifices. This film will debut on national television on November 
10th on PBS.
  As the mother of a veteran myself, I want to thank all of the 
veterans living with disabilities for their sacrifices and assure them 
that they will not be forgotten.

                          ____________________