[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 18640]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             AMERICAN LEGION POST 117 VETERANS DAY CEREMONY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ROBERT J. WITTMAN

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 19, 2015

  Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to submit a Veterans Day 
speech written and delivered by Mr. Don Hirst to American Legion Post 
117 on Veterans Day 2015.

  [From American Legion Post 117 Veterans Day Ceremony, Nov. 11, 2015]

             American Legion Post 117 Veterans Day Ceremony

                             (By Don Hirst)

       Good morning and thank you all for coming to Post 117's 
     Veterans Day Event.
       Let me start off by asking for a show of hands, to include 
     family members and surviving spouses. Please leave them up 
     until I'm finished with a few brief questions, if you can.
       How many of you are veterans of World War II? Of the Korean 
     War? The Cold War? Vietnam? Grenada, Panama or similar 
     actions? Desert Storm? Afghanistan? Iraq? Deployments to 
     support any of those action or similar ones I've overlooked?
       Now look around the room. Quite a lot of hands, right? 
     Okay, please put them down and relax while I make a few 
     observations and comments. Everyone who raised a hand is a 
     veteran, or a significant part of a veteran's family. Some of 
     you may even be both.
       Today is Veterans Day, and that's why we're gathered here 
     and in tens of thousands of other places across the nation 
     and the world: to mark an important date in America's 
     history. For us, it's a day that represents a whole lot more 
     than big sales at the supermarket, shopping mall or car 
     dealerships. Yeah, we all may take part in some of that, but 
     we know to the core of our being that it's intended to honor 
     those who served the nation and served it well. You're all 
     part of that select group. Many of you bear scars, physical 
     or otherwise, as a result of your service.
       So what does it mean to be a veteran? In the minds of a lot 
     of folks, a veteran is someone whose service is over, tour of 
     duty ended. That's a long way from the truth. Especially in 
     today's world, with all of the dangers and challenges that 
     seem to be popping up everywhere. Kind of like a grim version 
     of Whack-a-Mole.
       As I sat writing this a couple of days ago, the news 
     reports once again trumpeted more acts of violence against 
     the nation's citizens. Two American trainers--civilians but 
     working to help train police in Jordan, a U.S. ally headed by 
     a courageous leader with extensive military experience and 
     service--were gunned down in an apparent blue-on-blue attack. 
     They were murdered by a Jordanian officer. This wasn't the 
     first such case we've encountered in recent years and in 
     different locations. It won't be the last, either. You can 
     take that to the bank.
       The list of incidents, both overseas and, increasingly, at 
     home here in the United States, grows with each flip of the 
     calendar page. Unless you're totally ignorant, oblivious or 
     intellectually challenged--or a combination of all three--you 
     sense with a growing feeling of foreboding that we are at 
     war.
       So what do we do about it?
       This isn't the venue to get into partisan political 
     discussions, something we're not supposed to do at official 
     events since we're part of the American Legion and thus have 
     nonprofit, tax-exempt status. We Legion members each have our 
     own political beliefs, but we're a nonpartisan organization. 
     We do our politicking informally, over a beer, and at the 
     local precinct ballot box each election day. As an aside, I 
     hope all of you voted on November 3 and repeat that civic 
     duty in the coming year. Voting is a precious right. That 
     right was earned by blood sacrifices of the past, and is kept 
     alive by the sacrifices that will come.
       But let's get back to the ``what do we do about it?'' part. 
     The situation is serious--and getting worse. The historian in 
     me says that we arguably haven't been in such perilous times 
     since the 1930s. Back then we saw economic chaos, the rise of 
     Nazi Germany, Japanese militarism and a continued avoidance 
     of taking action by the great democracies of the world.
       Finally, of course, we did act, winning a stunning, hard 
     fought victory against the forces of pure evil. We won, and 
     that's a fact beyond dispute. But we paid a much higher price 
     for that victory by not acting sooner, when decisive action 
     may well have saved millions from a horrible fate.
       I think we're at such a crossroads today. Even a casual 
     glance at the headlines shows how dangerous it is right now. 
     And it's likely to get worse before it's over.
       As the horizon grows darker, I believe it's a good idea to 
     take stock of where we are, what assets we have and what we 
     can do about it. I'm not advocating forming a militia of 
     disgruntled, angry veterans or vigilante groups. But I am 
     strongly urging us as free citizens, neighbors in the 
     vibrant, close-knit communities of the Northern Neck, to 
     stand up and stand together so that we are better prepared 
     for what may come.
       It's like insurance. You might not need it right this 
     second, but when you do, it's too late to buy a policy after 
     the flood waters reach the second floor of your home or the 
     volunteer fire department battles the blaze threatening your 
     house.
       Now let me ask for one more show of hands. Are there any 
     members of our local government, our sheriff's department or 
     other similar agencies here today? Please raise your hands. 
     And if there aren't any hands up, I expect that more than one 
     person here today is acquainted with such folks and can help 
     spread the word.
       You saw a few minutes ago how many people raised their 
     hands when I asked about prior military service. They're 
     veterans. They're experienced. They've been in the tough 
     places, done the tough jobs. And they're an extremely 
     valuable asset that shouldn't be overlooked in future times 
     of need. Those times could be months or years from now--or 
     maybe never come. Or they could be this afternoon or 
     tomorrow. Think Pearl Harbor. And 9-11.
       So I urge the local authorities to reach out, to connect 
     with us, the veterans who are your friends and neighbors. 
     We're here, we're near--and we're something you should put in 
     the emergency kit. This T-shirt I ordered [holds up T-shirt 
     in front of the audience] came in the mail just in time for 
     Veterans Day. Rather than wear it under my shirt, I wanted to 
     use it to reinforce my point. I don't know if you all can see 
     it, but the inscription on the back says,

       VETERAN.
       Don't Think Because My Time Has
       Ended
       That I Won't Suit Up Again &
       Protect This Flag
       Against Terrorism
       On American Soil

       I'd add protecting against other threats to the terrorism 
     part, because that's what we can do, too.
       At the dawn of the birth of our nation, a group of poorly 
     armed patriots stood together at Concord Bridge to fight for 
     their freedom against the might of the British army. Standing 
     strong against great odds also is the theme of the epic poem 
     ``Horatius at the Bridge'' written by English poet Thomas 
     Babington Macaulay in 1842. The poem tells of a time in 
     ancient Rome when the citizens wanted self-rule against kings 
     and tried to hold the city against the king's attacking army. 
     One bridge across the Tiber River had to be demolished by the 
     defenders for the city to hold, but they needed time to do 
     it.
       Horatius, a valiant Roman soldier, and two stalwart 
     comrades-in-arms, stood shoulder-to-shoulder at that bridge. 
     They bought the time needed. It was Winston Churchill's 
     favorite poem, and a few short verses tell you why:

     Then out spake brave Horatius,
     the Captain at the Gate.
     To every man upon this earth
     Death cometh soon or late.
     And how can man die better
     Than facing fearful odds
     For the ashes of his fathers
     And the temples of his gods.

       So saddle up, fellow veterans. We've got a job to do. See 
     you at the bridge!

                          ____________________