Senate Proceeding 11-10-09 on Nov 10th, 2009 :: 0:34:25 to 0:41:05
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0:34:22 to 0:34:42( Edit History Discussion )

John Thune: said, to rember the marine corps today and also to rember our veterans tomrow. with t the presiding officer: the senator from south dakota. mr. thune mr. president, i want to join my colleague from

0:34:25 to 0:41:05( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: John Thune

0:34:43 to 0:35:04( Edit History Discussion )

John Thune: virginia in support of this legislation and thank him for his leadership on this and so many of the other issues initiatives that recognize the service and sacrifice of america's veterans. he's been a leader on that, and i appreciated his leadership on this issue because i think as we prepare to observe veterans day

0:35:05 to 0:35:29( Edit History Discussion )

John Thune: tomorrow, it's recognize those veterans who served throughout our nation's history. and along with senator rockefeller, senator webb and i introduced legislation known as the frame buck kels world war i memorial act which recognized once and for all those veterans who served during world war i.

0:35:31 to 0:35:51( Edit History Discussion )

John Thune: the memorial act would rededicate the district of columbia national world war i memorial. the act is named for frank buck kels of west virginia who at 108 years of age is the surviving world war i veteran. i appreciate the strong support of senator rockefeller who of course has frank buckles as a

0:35:52 to 0:36:12( Edit History Discussion )

John Thune: constituent and appreciate the support of senator webb for this bill. it has strong and meaningful support on both sides of the aisle. and as i said, mr. president, i think it's very fitting to speak on a bill seeking to establish a national world war i memorial because as many know, veterans day was initially known as armistice day which marked the

0:36:13 to 0:36:33( Edit History Discussion )

John Thune: end of world war i on november 11, 1918. after america's role in world war ii and the korean war congress changing armistice day into veterans day. from initially being a day to honor world war i veterans, november1 became the day to honor all veterans.

0:36:34 to 0:36:54( Edit History Discussion )

John Thune: as we are rapidly nearing a century since the beginning of world war i whaoeuld world war world war i has become a distant memory it has shaped the world in which we live.

0:36:55 to 0:37:16( Edit History Discussion )

John Thune: the war -- and i quote -- "forced a reduck tapbt united states -- reluctant united states on to the world stage and laid the seeds for the conflict in the middle east. in short, it shaped not just europe but the world in the 20th century." world war i began for the united states when it entered the war on the western front because of

0:37:17 to 0:37:38( Edit History Discussion )

John Thune: the german submarine attacks on u.s. shipping and because woodrow wilson declared the united states had to declare war if it was to shape the future of international relations. the united states was in world war i for only 18 months and its army grew from 100,000 men to 4 million with 2 million men sent

0:37:39 to 0:37:59( Edit History Discussion )

John Thune: overseas, 1.5 million of whom arrived in europe in the last six months of the war. over 100,000 american soldiers died in world war i. frank buckless the last surviving american world war veteran. he was born in missouri, currently lives in west virginia.

0:38:00 to 0:38:20( Edit History Discussion )

John Thune: he joined the army at 16 and went to europe to fight in 1917 driving ambulances and motorycycles for a casualty detachment. he was discharged from the army in 1919. mr. buckles was extraordinarily affected by world war ii. he was in manila on business when the japanese attacked and was captured by the japanese and

0:38:21 to 0:38:41( Edit History Discussion )

John Thune: spent three years in a japanese prison camp in the philippines. i urpbg everyone -- urge everyone to track down his interview where he talks about his experiences in world war i and world war ii. transcripts can be found on the library of congress veterans hiory web site. it is

0:38:42 to 0:39:02( Edit History Discussion )

John Thune: i've taken advantage of the project to interview my dad about h experience as a pilot during world war ii. the frank

0:39:03 to 0:39:23( Edit History Discussion )

John Thune: memorial act will help make this vision a raefplt i had the opportunity -- a reality. i had the opportunity to meet mr. buckles last year and he is an extraordinary individual. mr. buckles traveled to south dakota to be honored at mount rushmore during their magnificent 4th of july sell pwraeufplgts it is an honor for me to support this bill which carries his name.

0:39:24 to 0:39:44( Edit History Discussion )

John Thune: briefly i want to describe what the bill does. in924 congress authorized the construction of a waremorial on the national mall near the lincoln memorial to honor the 499 district of columbia residents who died in world war i. funded by private donations from organizations and individuals the memorial was dedicated by president herb f herbert hoover

0:39:45 to 0:40:06( Edit History Discussion )

John Thune: in 1931. the frank buckles world war i memorial act the district of columbia memorial as the national and district of columbia world war i memorial. the legislation would also authorize the nonprofit organization to make repairs and improvements to the existing memorial as well as install new sculptures or other

0:40:07 to 0:40:27( Edit History Discussion )

John Thune: to underscore the sacrifice of over 4 million americans who served in world war i. the bill would not require taxpayer dollars because the worldar i memorial foundation would raise the necessary funds through private donations. all the major wars our nation fought in the 020th century -- in the 20th century are memorialized on the national mall.

0:40:28 to 0:40:52( Edit History Discussion )

John Thune: rededicating the district of columbia world war i memorial fits the narrative of the mall which with its wonderful memorials korean war and vietnam war. i think it makes sense to rededicate a memorial to this 20th century war that established our nation's path to superpower status.

0:40:53 to 0:41:06( Edit History Discussion )

John Thune: this veterans day will mark the 91st anniversary of the end of world war i. i can think of no better way to honor mr. buckles and his comrades by passing this. this bill would provide timely