A concurrent resolution expressing the sense of the Congress that the United States Postal Service should issue commemorative postage stamps honoring Americans who distinguished themselves by their service in the armed forces.

Mr. President, I rise today to submit a resolution calling on the United States Postal Service to issue commemorative postage stamps honoring distinguished servicemen and servicewomen from the Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.

On May 3, 2000 the United States Postal Service formally recognized four distinguished Army soldiers with ``Distinguished Soldiers'' commemorative postage stamps. These stamps serve as an important tribute to the patriotism and uncommon valor of four individual soldiers who risked life and limb in defense of liberty. Clearly, as our military is being mobilized for possible military action, these stamps serve as a timely recognition of the sacrifice made by our Army personnel to defend the democratic values that we hold dear.

To date, however, there has been an unfortunate, but easily remediable oversight: the Postal Service has issued a set of four stamps recognizing the accomplishments of individual U.S. Army soldiers, but has not followed through with similar stamp series commemorating the profound contributions of individual members of the armed forces from the Marines, the Navy, the Air Force, and the Coast Guard.

Recognizing all the branches of our Armed Forces is long overdue. Men and women from all the military services deserve recognition for the risks they have taken and the sacrifices they have made for the freedom we all enjoy. As Mr. Einar Dyhrkopp, then Chairman of the Postal Service Board of Governors stated in May 2000, at the dedication ceremony for the block of four stamps commemorating the valor of individual ``Distinguished Soldiers,'' ``By doing their duty, they brought honor to us all and helped preserve this country that we love. Now it's time for the nation to do its duty and honor these distinguished soldiers.''

It is a mistake to pay tribute to one service without similar tributes to the other services. The Postal Service should issue similar four-stamp sets recognizing the military accomplishments of individual members of the Air Force, the Marines, the Navy and the Coast Guard soon to redress this lamentable omission.

I am sure that each member of Congress can think of at least one military hero who deserves this special recognition. For instance, I have long felt that a stamp commemorating the courageous service of Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone would be a fitting memorial to a great Marine.

Raised in Raritan, NJ, Basilone, enlisted in the U.S. Army soon after his 18th birthday. Shortly thereafter, he was deployed to the Philippines where he earned a nickname that would stick with him for the rest of his career: ``Manila John.''

Following his tour of duty in 1937, Basilone returned to Raritan. But he wouldn't stay there long. In July 1940, with much of Europe at war and the United States on the brink, ``Manila John'' left New Jersey, enlisting in the military once again, this time joining the United States Marine Corps.

On October 24, 1942, Basilone earned his Congressional Medal of Honor. He was sent to a position on the Tenaru River at Guadalcanal and placed in command of two sections of heavy machine guns. Sergeant Basilone and his men were charged with defending Henderson Airfield, an important American foothold on the island. Although the Marine contingent was vastly outnumbered and without needed support, Basilone and his men successfully repelled a Japanese assault.

Other survivors reported that their success can be attributed to one man: ``Manila John.'' He crossed enemy lines to replenish a dangerously low stockpile of ammunition, repaired artillery pieces, and steadied his troops in the midst of torrential rain. He went several days and nights without food or sleep, and the U.S. military was able to carry the day. His exploits became Marine lore, and served as a patriotic inspiration to others facing daunting challenges in the midst of war.

For his courage under fire and profound patriotism, Basilone was the first enlisted Marine to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in World War II. When he returned to the United States, he was heralded as a hero and quickly sent on tour around the country to help finance the war through the sale of war bonds. The Marine corps offered to commission Basilone as an officer and station him far away from the frontlines.

But Basilone was not interested in riding out the war in Washington, DC. He was quoted as saying. ``I ain't no officer, and I ain't no museum piece. I belong back with my outfit.'' In December 1944, he got his wish and returned to the frontlines.

General Douglas MacArthur called him ``a one-man army,'' and on February 19, 1945 at Iwo Jima, Basilone once against lived up to that reputation. Basilone destroyed an enemy stronghold, a blockhouse on that small Japanese island and commanded his young troops to move the heavy guns off the beach. Unfortunately, less than two hours into the assault on that fateful day in February, Basilone and four of his fellow marines were killed when an enemy mortar shell exploded nearby.

When Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone died, he was only 27, but he had already earned the Congressional Medal of Honor, the Navy Cross, the Purple Heart, and the appreciation of his Nation. Basilone is a true American patriot whose legacy should be preserved.

Basilone is just one of the many heroes who deserve to be memorialized on a U.S. postage stamp. That is why the Military Coalition, a group that includes associations representing every aspect of our Armed Forces community, from the Reserve Officers Association to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, has endorsed the initiative to see commemorative stamps issued honoring exceptional service men and women from all branches of the military.

The Postal Service fittingly honored courageous men and women who fought in the Army by issuing stamps commemorating the tremendous sacrifice and unusual courage demonstrated by individual distinguished soldiers. Now it is time for Marines like Sergeant Basilone, and men and women from the Air Force, the Coast Guard, and the Navy to be honored in a similar fashion.

I strongly urge my colleagues to support this resolution as an important message to all our military servicemen and women that we appreciate and admire their efforts to defend our great country.

Mr. President, I join my colleague from New Jersey, Senator Corzine, in support of a series of commemorative postage stamps to

honor the distinguished members of our armed services.

As a veteran of World War II and Korea, I know firsthand the hardships of war. It certainly does provide a deeper appreciation for life and the struggles faced by the men and women who serve in our uniformed services. I also appreciate just how critical it is for our military personnel to be appropriately trained, well-equipped, and fairly compensated, both in times of peace and hostilities, for protecting the freedoms we enjoy as Americans.

In May of 2000, a series of four stamps were issued by the United States Postal Service to acknowledge several distinguished leaders of the United States Army. This Resolution maintains that this honor should be extended to recognize the accomplishments of notable service members of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, United States Air Force and the United States Coast Guard.

I take great pride in representing military personnel and the veterans of our great nation and I am pleased to support this admirable initiative.