Military Appreciation Month

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise today to thank our men and women in uniform and remember those who gave their life for this country.

The month of May is recognized as Military Appreciation Month, and we have several days dedicated to honoring our servicemen and -women, as well as their families.

May 7 is Military Spouse Appreciation Day. May 8 is Victory in Europe Day, marking the end of World War II in Europe. May 15 is Armed Services Day, where we thank Active Duty members from all branches of the military.

But on the last day of May, we have our most solemn occasion, Memorial Day, where we mourn those whom we lost in defense of this Nation.

The tradition of Memorial Day dates back to 1864 in Boalsburg, Pennsylvania. Three ladies decorated the graves of fallen Civil War soldiers, and the custom has continued every year since then. Boalsburg still puts on a traditional Memorial Day celebration, complete with a parade, a community walk to the cemetery, speeches, military reenactments, and much more.

In the days leading up to Memorial Day, many place flags or lay wreaths at the graves of our soldiers. We gather with friends and family to attend parades and special services to remember those lost.

As we take the time to thank our Active Duty members and remember the fallen, we must also never forget the soldiers who have not returned home.

As the father of a wounded warrior, I thank God every day he returned home safely. Not every family has been as lucky, and we owe our greatest efforts to recovering the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

Currently, there are more than 80,000 American servicemembers who remain unaccounted for, from World War II, the Korean war, the Vietnam war, the Cold War, and the gulf wars. We must uphold our promise to our POW/MIA who made the ultimate sacrifice and work to return these members home to their families.

That is why today I am introducing the Prisoners of War and Missing in Action Trade Agreement Resolution. As we develop trade ties in regions where servicemembers once engaged in combat, we must make every effort to guarantee these countries are active participants in aiding in the recovery of our fallen soldiers. While several of these nations have worked to assist in the research and recovery efforts, many challenges still exist.

This resolution ensures that as we enter mutually beneficial trade agreements, our trade partners will commit to the research and recovery efforts of our Nation's missing servicemembers.

In addition, it also sends a message to the families of those who are still waiting for their loved ones to return home. The United States will uphold the eternal promise to our Armed Forces to always bring our men and women home.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, especially in advance of Memorial Day weekend. As Memorial Day approaches and we make plans to see family and friends and to attend services and parades, let us remember that our freedom is not free and we owe thanks to those who died in sacrifice.

May God bless them, and may God bless the United States of America.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source