AMERICANS WHO HAVE VOLUNTARILY SERVED AND SACRIFICED DESERVE OUR DEEPEST GRATITUDE AND RECOGNITION; Congressional Record Vol. 165, No. 182
(House of Representatives - November 14, 2019)
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[Page H8834]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
AMERICANS WHO HAVE VOLUNTARILY SERVED AND SACRIFICED DESERVE OUR
DEEPEST GRATITUDE AND RECOGNITION
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from
Colorado (Mr. Crow) for 5 minutes.
Mr. CROW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Global War on
Terrorism Memorial Location Act, which I am very proud to have
introduced along with my friend and colleague from Wisconsin,
Congressman Mike Gallagher.
The global war on terrorism changed the course of American history
and the lives of millions of servicemembers, first responders, and
civil servants--including my own.
On 9/11 and since, we have learned that we can never take our
democracy or our country's security for granted. It is a fight that,
sadly, continues today.
The millions of Americans who have voluntarily served and sacrificed
for our Nation deserve our deepest gratitude, but they also deserve our
recognition.
Several generations of Americans have now come of age during the
global war on terrorism. There are now Americans born after 9/11 who
are serving today, overseas, in uniform in what has become our Nation's
longest conflict.
That is one of the reasons why it is now time for us to recognize the
several generations of Americans who have volunteered to serve our
Nation: those of us who have served and who have worked to help our
fellow veterans understand the important power of place, the
transformational power of a sacred location where veterans and their
families can come together to heal, to remember, and to reflect.
Memorials like those for World War II, Korea, and Vietnam have
provided the opportunities for those generations whose lives and
service were defined by those conflicts, and it is now time for the
current generation of veterans to have that same opportunity. It is our
hope that, by honoring them in the Nation's Capital, we will ensure a
location befitting of their service and their sacrifice.
Over 2\1/2\ million Americans have served in uniform in the global
war on terrorism, and millions more first responders, law enforcement,
and civil servants have also supported global operations. To date, over
7,000 Americans have given the ultimate sacrifice and over 53,000 have
been wounded. Many more bear the invisible scars of the war that will
be with them for the rest of their lives.
If these feel like statistics to some, they are not to me and to many
others. At a time when Congress feels more divided than ever before, I
hope that this Congress can focus on what we do have in common and what
does bring us together so that we can move our country forward.
We have a sacred duty to those who have selflessly served in our
Nation's longest war, and it is a charge that we do not take lightly. I
urge my colleagues to join me in this effort by supporting the bill.
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