[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 6]
[House]
[Page 7452]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              MEMORIAL DAY

  (Mr. LaMALFA asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LaMALFA. Madam Speaker, we recognize Memorial Day, this last 
Monday of May. We remember those who have given their lives in service 
to our Nation's Armed Forces.
  Recognition of this sacrifice began following the bloodiest conflict 
in our Nation's history, the Civil War, and today remains as 
significant as ever.
  From the Revolutionary War to Operation Enduring Freedom in 
Afghanistan, from Vietnam to today's struggle against the tyranny of 
ISIS, Americans have dedicated their lives to protecting freedom at 
home and abroad.
  As we contemplate this weekend as a holiday, we also need to remember 
what this really looks like for those that we are truly remembering.
  This morning a group of us were able to visit Arlington Cemetery and 
take that in and remember that sacrifice as we laid a wreath. It was a 
unique opportunity to visit with spouses of those who have fallen and 
see what it really feels like.
  They were grateful not just for our visit, but also that people 
across America take time to pause and remember and be grateful for 
their service and say thank you to those Gold Star families whom we 
will never be able to repay.
  Madam Speaker, we ask for God's blessings on those families.

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