Commemorating 60th Anniversary of Conclusion of War in the Pacific and Honoring Veterans of Both Pacific and Atlantic Theaters of Second World War

COMMEMORATING 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF CONCLUSION OF WAR IN THE PACIFIC AND HONORING VETERANS OF BOTH PACIFIC AND ATLANTIC THEATERS OF SECOND WORLD WAR -- (House of Representatives - July 13, 2005)

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Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, this is the 60th anniversary of the final victory in one of the greatest campaigns for the preservation of freedom in the history of the world. The heroic struggle of America's Greatest Generation and the peoples of the allied countries to defeat the scourge of Fascist militarism and liberate millions from its iron fist was the most monumental endeavor of the entire 20th century.

World leaders quite properly gathered in Moscow on May 9 to commemorate V-E Day, the 60th anniversary of the victory in Europe. We certainly join in honoring our heroic veterans of the D-Day landing and those of the entire Atlantic theater for their valiant efforts to liberate the people of Continental Europe, especially those trapped in death camps from Nazi tyranny.

We should well remember, however, that for the American people, the Second World War neither began nor ended in Europe. For our Nation, the war began on a quiet Sunday morning in Hawaii, when the U.S. was suddenly and deliberately attacked at Pearl Harbor. Over 2,400 lives were lost, including those buried in the sunken hull of the battleship USS Arizona. These dead represent the greatest number of American casualties in any such attack prior to September 11, 2001, another date which will live in infamy.

The war for America did not end on May 19 with the defeat of the axis powers in Europe. The battle for Okinawa, the largest sea-land air battle in history was largely fought after the surrender in Europe. It was not until General Douglas McArthur crossed the deck of the battleship Missouri in Tokyo Bay to accept the final surrender of Japan on September 2, 1945, that America and the world were finally at peace.

V-E Day had been the beginning of the end, but V-J Day was the final victory. I stand in strong support, therefore, for this concurrent resolution, which gives equal recognition to veterans of both the Pacific and Atlantic theatres as inscribed in the World War II Memorial which was dedicated last year on our National Mall.

This resolution calls upon generations of Americans who followed those who fought and died in this historic conflict to pause and give remembrance to the sacrifices of the greatest generation as the 60th anniversary of V-J Day approaches. The events of that war are slowly fading, and a distant memory, rekindled only in our national consciousness by readings in history textbooks or by clips from old war films, therefore we must assure, through commemorations like the one contained in this resolution that the sacrifices of the World War II generation are never diminished or never forgotten.

We here today should dedicate ourselves to preserving these memories, even as we stand once again to thank our World War II veterans for their sacrifice and their valor. As Americans reflect on the decades of unparalleled stability and prosperity following the aftermath of the Second World War, they may recall the words of the great British Scientist, Sir Isaac Newton who said, ``If I have been able to see further, it was only because I stood on the shoulders of giants.''

The blessings we enjoy today come from standing on the shoulders of those giants who fought, bled and died 6 decades ago so we might be free. And so to all those who fought, we owe an enormous debt of gratitude. Their legacy today is a peaceful and increasingly prosperous Asian Pacific region, where democratic institutions have taken root and market economies have flourished.

Their gift to us is an America which still stands as a beacon of liberty to the people of Asia who remember well the horrors inflicted by the coming of the Second World War.

With pride and boundless gratitude do we acknowledge the unpayable debt we all owe to veterans, who together with our allies and those on the home front, won the final victory which we commemorate today.

Mr. Speaker I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from California has been incredibly generous in his remarks, and I would like to comment on his history for the edification of our colleagues.

Hitler's forces occupied Hungary on March 19, 1944. Along with the Nazi invaders came the notorious Adolf Eichmann, with orders to exterminate the Jewish population of Hungary. A 16-year-old boy viewing these somber events decided he had to take a stand. He joined the Hungarian underground, a loose-knit group which was made up of small clusters of individuals.

Sent to a work camp to perform forced labor to maintain a railway bridge, this boy was the sole survivor of an allied bombing raid. ``I was convinced I would not survive,'' the boy recalled. But fate had greater things in store for this young hero. Escaping from the camp, the young man made his way to Budapest where he joined Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg in his rescue operation to save much of the Jewish community of Hungary.

The young man ran operations for the underground carrying food and medicine through Nazi lines to Jews hiding throughout the city. After the war, the young man was reunited with his childhood friend, who was to become his wife, Annette. Together they immigrated to America to start a new life.

Fortunately for all of us on the International Relations Committee and in Congress and in America, that brave lad from Budapest is here with us today. After a distinguished academic career in California, the same determination which kept him alive at the bombed out railway bridge has now brought him to Congress, where he serves as the ranking Democratic member of the International Relations Committee.

For his courage in war, for his service in peace, especially here in Congress, I would like to express sincere and profound appreciation to my friend and colleague, the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos.)

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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