Recognizing Outstanding Efforts of Individuals and Communities who Volunteered or Donated Items to North Platte Canteen During World War II

RECOGNIZING OUTSTANDING EFFORTS OF INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES WHO VOLUNTEERED OR DONATED ITEMS TO NORTH PLATTE CANTEEN DURING WORLD WAR II -- (House of Representatives - September 22, 2004)

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Mr. FRANKS of Arizona. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Moran), another cosponsor of this resolution.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Madam Speaker, I am here to lend my support for not only this resolution, but for the epitome that it represents, the story it tells about folks from the middle of the country, in this case from Nebraska.

Sometimes, particularly during football season, it is unusual for any Kansan to be here speaking about something good happening in Nebraska, but it is this story that the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Osborne) tells about an historic event that is still part of people's lives of Nebraska and how it affected Kansas. In fact, it affected many soldiers across the country who made the trek across Nebraska on the train and stopped in North Platte at the canteen. In fact, the first soldiers that were cared for at the canteen were from my State of Kansas.

The gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Osborne) explained this story to me one day 4 or 5 months ago, and as he was talking about the sacrifice that those Nebraskans made, those individual farmers, those families, those young men and women, those kids, to try to make a difference in the lives of soldiers who were facing an uncertain future, I could just sense the emotion that the gentleman had for the sacrifice that was made. In fact, it seems to me that tears kind of welled up in the eyes of the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Osborne).

Again, I think those of us who come from middle America recognize the kind of people that we have the honor to represent, recognize the people who make up the history and tradition of our States and what a difference they make, how much they care.

So I am here to join the gentleman from Nebraska in honoring something that happened that was great about middle America, but really exemplifies not only America then, not only middle America, but all of America, and, most importantly, exemplifies what still goes on in our country today, the concern for our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines.

Once again, as our country is calling our men and women in active duty to service in the war on terror, it is an appropriate time for us to recognize those who cared in the past, and once again call upon all Americans to serve and sacrifice for the soldiers and families who serve our country so nobly today.