Recognizing the importance of teaching elementary and secondary school students about the sacrifices that veterans have made throughout the history of the Nation.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 897 recognizing the importance of teaching elementary and secondary school students about the sacrifices that veterans have made throughout the history of the Nation. Over the recent Veterans Day holiday, I was proud to attend many ceremonies and parades held across my district to honor our veterans. Through these events, and many others, students learn the important role past generations played in our Nation's history. We watch with admiration the accomplishments of our servicemen and -women, both past and present. And as we come upon another holiday season, we are thankful for their perseverance and dedication, and are again reminded how important our military, their families, and veterans are to our Nation's history and future.

I want to share one experience just a few weeks ago. We finished voting early, and I went for a walk around the Capitol on a beautiful fall day. As I was walking down the Mall, I walked past the World War II Memorial. I stood there, and there were older people looking at the Pacific side and the Atlantic side, and I was trying to think in my mind what they were thinking. Were they remembering a friend or colleague that didn't come back? A lot of them were sharing that experience with grandchildren or great-grandchildren. You could just see at the memorial the pride and the tears in our veterans.

As I continued to walk, I went down to the Korean war memorial, and that is one that my family has personal experience with. My uncle, 12 years before I was born, in 1952 was killed. And so my grandfather and grandmother always talked about the sacrifice of veterans, particularly losing their oldest son in the Korean war.

Then further along the Mall there is the memorial to Abraham Lincoln with

the Gettysburg Address dedicating a cemetery to our veterans.

And then the one that is so moving, as I was walking back, the Vietnam Wall. As you see families at the Vietnam Wall, a lot of them will take a piece of paper and pencil and will sketch out the name of someone. As I was watching them doing that, I was standing there wondering, is that a husband that didn't come home? Is that a father for a child they never met?

And then I turned back to get back for an evening meeting. As you head to the Capitol, you understand what it is all about. The thing that you see most and foremost is the dome over the building in which we are standing. I remember walking back after having these moments with veterans and remembering veterans and looking at the dome all of the way walking back and saying, that dome is opportunity, it is freedom, it is hope. But not just for us; it is hope for the world. People look to that dome throughout the world.

It hit me that the Mall is the story of veterans. And the reason the Mall is the story of veterans and memorials to veterans, this country, this Nation and this dome and this symbol is about freedom, and we wouldn't have one without the other. It was an emotional day for me as I was walking back.

I have been talking to schools as I mentioned earlier during Veterans Day, and one of the things I talked to them about was about Francis Scott Key and ``The Star-Spangled Banner'' and the history and the actual meaning of those words in that song. I always end it with--I will never pretend that I can improve on Francis Scott Key, but the last line, It is the land of the free and the home of the brave, I would say we need to think it is the land of the free because of the brave.

I think it is important that our students are taught, and in our home State of Kentucky, Veterans Day is a school day, but it is mandated that each school teaches about veterans by being in session on Veterans Day. I think it is important that we do this across this country, and I ask my colleagues to support this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and so I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 897) recognizing the importance of teaching elementary and secondary school students about the sacrifices that veterans have made throughout the history of the Nation.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent for 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend their remarks on H. Res. 897.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 897, and I thank my friend and colleague from Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie) for offering this legislation. This resolution recognizes the importance of teaching elementary and secondary school students about the sacrifices veterans have made throughout our Nation's history.

Our country is built on the backbone of men and women who served in our Nation's military forces. Veterans from all across the Nation sacrifice their time, energy, and lives for freedoms that we sometimes take for granted. In 2008, there were over 23 million veterans in the United States, but much of our Nation's youth do not fully comprehend the commitment our soldiers undergo on a daily basis. Many times, veterans leave combat and reintegrate into society with extreme challenges: post-traumatic stress disorder, alcoholism, drug abuse, and homelessness are just some of the afflictions our dear veterans face. However, there are a number of dedicated organizations that cater and focus direct attention to the needs of our veterans.

Last month, we commemorated our veterans on November 11 with Veterans Day. We remembered heroes for their fearlessness, their loyalty, and their dedication. Their selfless sacrifices continue to inspire us today as we work to advance peace and extend freedom around the world.

We also remember and honor those who laid down their lives in freedom's defense. These brave men and women made the ultimate sacrifice for our benefit, and our country is forever indebted to our veterans for their courage and exemplary service.

But today, less than half of the Nation's high school seniors possess the basic knowledge of the contribution veterans have made to our Nation's safety and security, and because of this, I recognize the importance of teaching the sacrifices veterans have made for our Nation in the classroom.

Madam Speaker, I again want to support this resolution and to thank Representative Guthrie for bringing this resolution forward. I encourage my colleagues to support this resolution.

I reserve the balance of my time.

In closing, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. I want to once again thank Mr. Guthrie for bringing it forward. I urge support of this resolution.

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Madam Speaker, today I rise in support of H. Res. 897 recognizing the importance of teaching elementary and secondary school students about the sacrifices that veterans have made throughout the history of the Nation.

While this resolution is new to the House, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Holland Elementary School has made a special effort to recognize veterans for years. In November 2001, in response to the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, Holland Elementary School started their annual Veterans Day Recognition Program.

Created by Principal Mike Caywood (a Vietnam veteran himself) and music teacher Jane Zweinink, the Veterans Day Recognition Program invites veterans to come to Holland Elementary on Veterans Day and share their stories with students. Principal Caywood has invited veterans from all over the local community and specifically veterans from local senior care homes. Ms. Zweinink has taught students patriotic songs that are performed for guests when they came to school. The veterans have enjoyed seeing the students perform, singing songs and sharing their patriotic message.

Over the years, Holland Elementary has seen a decrease in the number of World War II vets attending and the Korean and Vietnam vets are getting older. In response, the school has proactively reached out to veterans from Desert Storm, Iraq and Afghanistan. They have also had an increase in the number of active duty soldiers participating, including mothers and fathers of students. Many of these veterans come from the school system itself. Fort Wayne Community Schools currently employs over 100 veterans.

Holland Elementary's Veterans Day Recognition Program is a great example of how H. Res. 897 can be implemented. I want to thank Mr. Caywood and Ms. Zweinink for their hard work in recognizing local veterans and making sure elementary students understand the sacrifices of generations before them.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, due to the death of a family member, I was absent from the House for the week of November 30 and thus not recorded for any votes that week. Had I been present, I would have voted in the following way on bills considered by the House:

On rollcall vote No. 911, on H.R. 3029, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 912, on H.R. 727, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 913, on H.R. 3667, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 914, on H. Res. 494, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 915, on H. Con. Res. 129, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 916, on H. Res. 861, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 917, on H. Res. 897, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 918, on H.R. 3634, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 919, on H.R. 515, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 920, on H. Con. Res. 197, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 921, on H.R. 1242, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 922, on H.R. 3980, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 923, on the Motion on Ordering the Previous Question on the Rule for H.R. 4154, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 924, on H. Res. 941, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 925, on approving the Journal, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 926, on H. Res. 28, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 927, on the Motion to Table the Appeal of the Ruling of the Chair, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 928, on the Motion to Recommit H.R. 4154, I would have voted ``nay'';

On rollcall vote No. 929, on H.R. 4154, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 930, on H.R. 3570, I would have voted ``yea''.

Madam Speaker, unfortunately, I missed the following recorded votes on the House floor on Tuesday, December 1, 2009 and Wednesday, December 2, 2009.

For Tuesday, December 1, 2009, had I been present I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 911, on motion to suspend the

rules and agree to H.R. 3029; ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 912, on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 727; ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 913, on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H.R. 3667.

For Wednesday, December 2, 2009, had I been present I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 914, on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 494; ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 915, on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Con. Res. 129; ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 916, on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 861; ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 917, on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 897; ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 918, on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H.R. 3634; ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 919, on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H.R. 515; ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 920, on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Con. Res. 197; ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 921, on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H.R. 1242; ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 922, on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H.R. 3980.