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Something to Remember this Memorial Day
By: U.S. Congressman Phil Gingrey, M.D.
In 1868, just three years after the end of the Civil War, a reunited country gathered to honor its soldiers. General James Garfield gave a speech at Arlington National Cemetery to remember those – both Union and Confederate – who had given their lives during the course of the war. It marked the first official celebration of Memorial Day.
This year, we continue the tradition. President George Bush will give a speech at that same cemetery – Arlington National – and we will again honor the brave men and women who have given their lives, most recently in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Much has changed for our military since the Civil War. Musket balls have been replaced with heat-seeking missiles, and grey wool uniforms have given way to desert fatigues. But 138 years later, one thing remains: our commitment to honoring our servicemen and women. We still decorate graves, and recall the memories of those who have no graves to decorate. We still share the stories of those we knew, and remember the soldiers whose stories will never be told.
By remembering the sacrifices of past generations, we are reminded that those brave men and women did not give their lives in vain. We are a free people today because of their selfless patriotism.
As a community, we join together to honor those who served and give comfort to those who grieve. At 3:00 PM on Memorial Day, communities across America are asked to fall silent for one minute as we observe the National Moment of Remembrance. Flags are traditionally flown at half-staff on this day, and many people uphold the tradition of decorating gravestones of fallen soldiers. All of these gestures remind us to honor America’s heroes.
There is another important way we should honor those who serve our nation, and that is by supporting our military veterans and families. I remain deeply committed to legislation that improves veteran healthcare, housing, employment, and educational opportunities. We must show our commitment to servicemen and women not only by honoring their memories, but by actively supporting those who continue risking their lives in defense of freedom. This is one of the most important ways we can thank our Georgia veterans, who proudly answered the call of service when our nation needed them most.
Our great former-President Ronald Reagan once honored the legacy of the fallen by promising: “We will always remember. We will always be proud. We will always be prepared, so we may be always free.”
This Memorial Day and every day, we must uphold that commitment to remember, to prepare, and to always preserve our precious freedom. This Memorial Day and every day, we must remember to give thanks for the liberties we have, and for the brave men and women who throughout our nation’s history have worked to secure freedom for all our citizens.
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Gingrey speaks at Berry, Georgia Highlands Graduations
Springtime means graduations, and Phil delivered the commencement speeches at two this year: Berry College and Georgia Highlands College. Below are exerts from his speeches:
Berry College (April 29, 2006):
Every time I visit Berry College, I’m impressed by the community that thrives here, a community built on the pillars of education, work, and faith. It brings me great comfort to know that more than a hundred years after it’s founding, Berry College has not strayed from the vision of its namesake.
Martha Berry died the year I was born – 1942. I have always felt a connection to Ms. Berry because I deeply believe in her vision of education. [Take] one of Ms. Berry’s most famous quotes: “Education,” she said, “Combines the head, heart, and hands.”
In education, as in life, you need to use all your facilities to succeed. You need your head to think, to learn, to know. You need your hands to work, to create, to improve. And you need your heart to love, to have compassion, to care for others. Alone, none of these can lead us to a fulfilling life.
Georgia Highlands College (May 16, 2006):
Being here at Georgia Highlands reminds me of how important education is to our way of life in this country.
Earlier this year, I had the honor of visiting our brave Georgia troops stationed in Iraq. One evening, while I was having dinner with members of the 48th Brigade Combat Unit of the Army National Guard, a young sergeant asked me if I ever thought about the difference between the Iraqi people and the American people. Americans, he explained, have hope and opportunity. Until now, the Iraqis had neither. This young man saw it as his mission to share the abundant freedoms our nation enjoys with those struggling in Iraq to achieve a freedom of their own.
Hope and opportunity are why we live in the freest and most prosperous nation in the world. Hope and opportunity are why the American Dream isn’t just a parable, but a tangible reality realized every day.
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Gingrey Introduces Legislation to
Suspend Visa Waiver Program
Last week, Phil introduced legislation to suspend the Visa Waiver program until a system based on biometric technology is in place to screen foreign visitors. The USA PATRIOT Act mandated the implementation of this type of system, but the program is not yet in place. The Visa Waiver program allows visitors from 27 countries to enter the United States without applying for a visa, opening the door for unscreened terrorists to enter our country.
“We know terrorists like Zacharias Moussaui exploited the Visa Waiver program to gain entry into the U.S.,” said Phil. “Until we have the technical and human resources to secure our points of entry, we cannot allow visitors to enter the U.S. unscreened. The United Kingdom is one of our nation's closest allies, yet the London subway bombing showed us that terrorists operate in all countries. We can’t welcome those with sinister intentions into the U.S. simply because their passports are British, French or Canadian.”
Gingrey Votes to block Tax Increase and pass Fiscally Responsible Budget
In May, the House of Representatives scored two big victories for American taxpayers. Phil voted to pass the FY 2007 Budget Resolution, which holds the line on fiscally responsible domestic spending and includes for the first time ever a “rainy day” fund for emergency spending throughout the year. He also voted to pass the Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act of 2005, which prevents a tax increase on millions of Americans including small business owners, seniors and families.
“Tax relief is keeping our economy strong, so we absolutely had to pass legislation that continues this trend,” said Phil. “We then took up the 2007 budget, and made the tough choice to tighten our fiscal belt. The budgetary process is never easy, but it is always preferable to taking more of the taxpayer’s hard-earned money to fund a bloated budget.”
Gingrey: Respect our Fallen Heroes by Protecting their Funerals
Phil put our fallen heroes first this month by supporting H.R. 5037, the Respect for America’s Fallen Heroes Act. This legislation prohibits demonstrations at funerals being held for fallen soldiers. The bill was introduced in response to the concerns of families grieving the deaths of servicemen and women. Anti-war protestors have been attending these funerals to disrupt this solemn time of grieving.
“Men and women who give their lives in service of this country deserve our deepest respect and gratitude,” said Gingrey. “The fact that protestors are trying to politicize these funerals is sickening and absolutely unacceptable. I am proud to sponsor legislation that will allow families to grieve without interruption. By respecting our fallen heroes and their families, we are respecting the brave work of our armed services and all they do to keep our families safe.”
Gingrey remembers favorite teacher
May 9 was National Teacher Day, a day when citizens, celebrities, and yes, Members of Congress thanked teachers for their hard work and dedication to educating our children.
In honor of this day, Phil shared some thoughts about one of his favorite teachers, Sister Mary Gilbert from Sacred Heart Grammar School in Augusta, Georgia. “Great teachers may instruct us when we’re young, but their lessons stay with us throughout our lives,” Phil said. “I fondly remember my 5th and 6th grade teacher at Sacred Heart. Her name was Sister Mary Gilbert, and she taught me much more than just English, history, and music. Sister Gilbert taught me about the importance of hard work. She made me feel special, and her inspiration made me want to succeed in school. Sister Gilbert has since passed away, but I will always remember her as an exceptionally gifted educator and someone who deeply touched my life.”
Gingrey testifies on legislation to
deter Child Pornography
In May, Phil testified before a House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on legislation he introduced to impose harsher penalties on child pornographers. At the hearing, Gingrey introduced 11th District resident Masha Allen, a 13-year old girl who was sexually abused by an adoptive father who posted pornographic images of her on the internet. It was after hearing her story that Gingrey introduced legislation to toughen penalties for those who produce, distribute, and download child pornography.
“The reality of these internet pornography crimes are horrible,” Phil testified. “However I am encouraged when I see victims who have the courage to tell their story. By supplying Americans with the knowledge of these criminals and arming prosecutors with an avenue in civil court to literally hit these criminals in their pocketbooks, we can take tremendous strides towards ending this cycle of pornography.”
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Gingrey calls Medicare Part D a “Huge Success” as 9 in 10 seniors have Rx drug coverage
Medicare announced this month that 90 percent of seniors now have prescription drug coverage. The enrollment period for Medicare Part D ended May 15th, and the program has been an unprecedented success.
“As the May 15th deadline approached, seniors were signing up at a rapid pace,” said Phil. “More than a million seniors enrolled in Medicare Part D in the last week alone, and the 1-800-MEDICARE hotline answered 64,000 calls in one day. We owe a great deal of thanks to the community organizations across America that helped educate and enroll seniors. Now, the fruits of their labor are evident. Seniors are saving an average of $1,100 a year on their medications – $3,700 a year for low-income seniors. One woman from Cedartown saw her monthly drug bill drop from $1,000 to merely $27. It’s clear Medicare Part D is delivering for our seniors. This program is a shining example of what can be accomplished when we put the needs of people over partisan politics.”
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Gingrey Military Academy nominees accept appointments
Phil proudly announced this month that four of his nominees have accepted appointments to U.S. Military Academies:
- Alex Deal of Columbus, Georgia has accepted an appointment to West Point.
- Luke Hyder of Cave Spring, Georgia has accepted an appointment to the Air Force Academy.
- Lauren Navarre of Carrollton, Georgia has accepted an appointment to the Naval Academy.
- Wil Tucker of Rome, Georgia has accepted an appointment to the Air Force Academy.
“I am so proud of our young men and women dedicated to protecting America during these critical times of national defense,” Phil said. “These nominees have shown a commitment to academic excellence, hard work, and community service. I know these qualities will serve them well at our military academies.”
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