Dedication of the World War II Veterans Memorial
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD
SENATE
June 2, 2004
DEDICATION OF THE WORLD WAR II VETERANS MEMORIAL
Mr. ENSIGN. Mr. President, this past weekend President Bush dedicated the World War II Memorial before an audience of several hundred thousand attendees and a national television audience of millions.
The memorial honors the 16 million who served in our Armed Forces during World War II, the more than 400,000 who died, and the millions who supported the war effort from home.
Symbolic of the defining event of the 20th Century, the memorial is a monument to the spirit, sacrifice, and commitment of the American people to the common defense of the Nation and to the broader causes of peace and freedom from tyranny throughout the world.
It is my belief that it will inspire future generations of Americans, deepening their appreciation of what the World War II generation accomplished in securing freedom and democracy.
Above all, the memorial stands as an important symbol of American national unity, a timeless reminder of the moral strength and awesome power that can flow when a free people are at once united and bonded together in a common and just cause.
The dedication of the World War II monument reminded me of a story that not many are familiar with. This story is about a young man whose experiences throughout the Pacific during World War II helped mold him into the compassionate, reasoned, and fiercely patriotic gentleman he is today.
In December of 1941, that young man was a high school student in Hawaii. And on the morning of December 7th, he and his schoolmates watched from the hillside in horror as the Japanese planes carried out their surprise attack on the Naval fleet in Pearl Harbor.
After finishing high school, this young patriot joined the United States Army and was assigned to the Corps of Engineers. He sailed throughout the Pacific, and participated in the invasions of the Japanese-held islands of Saipan and Tinian. In fact, when he was on Tinian he watched the Enola Gay lift off on her historic mission to the Japanese mainland.
Young DANIEL K. AKAKA had witnessed the beginning of World War II, and was fortunate enough to witness its conclusion.
Many years have passed since then. Now, Senator AKAKA can look back on a remarkable life. In addition to his Army exploits, he was a welder, a school teacher and principal, Congressman and is currently a U.S. Senator representing the good people of Hawaii.
It is in his current capacity that I know him best. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and ranking member on the Readiness and Management Support Subcommittee, we have worked together overseeing military readiness issues including training and exercises, logistics, and industrial operations, depots and shipyards, military construction, environmental programs, as well as policies and procedures related to reform of management practices at the Department of Defense.
I have the utmost respect and admiration for my colleague. Today I want to say thank you to my friend, DANIEL AKAKA.
The United States of America is the leader of the free world and the greatest Nation in history because you and your comrades, the greatest generation, served and sacrificed.
We have not forgotten how you helped save the world from tyranny, nor do we take for granted the price you paid for the freedom we cherish today.
You served our country with honor and commitment during one of the darkest times in modern history.
This Nation is as grateful, if not more, for you today, than we were in the days following your liberation of the world.
History has taught us how heroic and courageous you truly were. So it is only fitting that on this day, at this time, on behalf of a grateful nation I say, thank you. God bless you, DANIEL.