[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 68 (Thursday, May 26, 1994)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov] [Congressional Record: May 26, 1994] From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] OBSERVING MEMORIAL DAY 1994 ______ HON. STENY H. HOYER of maryland in the house of representatives Thursday, May 26, 1994 Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the men and women who risked and lost their lives to safeguard the democratic principles which we, as Americans, hold so dear. As we head into our annual observance of Memorial Day, we must pay homage to individuals who served with distinction and who faithfully devoted their lives to the preservation of our freedom. In 1868, Gen. John A. Logan, the Commander in Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic first issued the decree ordering that the graves of the Republic's war dead be decorated with flowers and other adornments. Although this was not the first time America had honored their war dead in this way, it marked the first official recognition of memorial by a national group. Up until that time, different communities celebrated Memorial Day on different days. The numerous ceremonies which we hold today have built upon this foundation laid by General Logan. Those of us who are not veterans of war will never know the deafening sound of shells, or the shear terror of battle. Moreover, we may not even know the feeling of losing a friend in combat, or risking our very lives for the rights we hold so dear. But I assure you, we do know speeches, prayers, and parades do not adequately serve to express our respect and gratitude to those who lost their lives while serving us so proudly. We perform these various acts not only out of respect for the sacrifice that our war dead endured, but out of responsibility that we as survivors have to keep their memories and deeds alive. We are a better and stronger country for the sacrifices borne by our war dead. For that reason we should remember them in the glory that they died. Let us not be sorrowful this day. We will continue to long for our friends and relatives who died on the field of honor. We will continue to wish that events could have been different, so that those who died so selflessly could be here now among us. All Americans stand proud in recognizing the sacrifices made by these fallen heroes and we fully acknowledge that our great country would not be what it is without them. ____________________