[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 6]
[House]
[Pages 8693-8694]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   HAPPY BIRTHDAY UNITED STATES ARMY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Carter) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on this day 241 years ago, the 
Congress adopted the American Continental Army. This Congress resolved 
to raise six companies of expert riflemen and to march and join the 
Army near Boston.
  Our Army was born in war, and to this day, it has continued its 
service in the defense of American liberty. Our six companies have 
grown to over 1 million strong. Our All-Volunteer force continues to be 
the example around the world, producing an image of American idealism 
and vision and a culture of soldiers that fight for country, the 
Constitution, and their fellow man.
  General George Washington, during one of the Army's first battles at 
the 1775 Siege of Boston, articulated how I feel about the Army: ``Your 
exertions in the cause of freedom, guided by wisdom and animated by 
zeal and courage, have gained you the love and confidence of your 
grateful countrymen;

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and they look to you, who are experienced veterans, and trust that you 
will still be the guardians of America.''
  These past 241 years have tried and tested our Army, from the fields 
of France to the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan. 
Today our soldiers are deployed in over 140 countries. Representing 
Fort Hood, I am aware that Fort Hood soldiers are deployed in 
Afghanistan and Korea in the defense of our American security. Every 
day I am reminded of what our men and women in uniform and their 
families do to protect what we hold special.
  With all the focus on weapons, programs, and initiatives, it is easy 
to forget that the Army is about people. Looking to God, I am reminded 
of Isaiah 6:8: ``Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, `Whom shall 
I send? And who will go for us?' And I said, `Here am I. Send me.'''
  On this 241st year of our Army's founding, I want to be one of the 
first to wish our United States Army the best and to say thank you and 
happy birthday. If you see a soldier anywhere today, wish the Army a 
happy birthday.

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