Mr. President, today is the 110th birthday of Frank Buckles, the longest surviving American veteran of the First World War. Frank Buckles is a wonderful man who still lives on his farm in West…
Mr. President, today is the 110th birthday of Frank Buckles, the longest surviving American veteran of the First World War. Frank Buckles is a wonderful man who still lives on his farm in West Virginia thanks to the extraordinary care provided by his daughter Susannah Flanagan. I am sure that my colleagues will join me in wishing Frank, ``Happy Birthday.''
I also believe it is important that we as a nation express our deep conviction for the sacrifices that Mr. Buckles and all the World War I veterans endured for our country. Frank is a representative of the extraordinary men who fought in numerous battles of the Great War in the defense of our nation. They have made sure that we as Americans are able to enjoy the quality of life that we so cherish.
Mr. Buckles has witnessed the world change drastically throughout his lifetime and has experiences that most of us can only dream about. He has seen the metamorphosis that has defined the American social and cultural revolutions of the last century. As a young man, he served in the Army's ambulance corps in France and Germany, where he evacuated wounded soldiers from the battlefield. During the Second World War, he spent over three years confined to a Japanese prison camp in the Philippines as a civilian.
Today, I am introducing a resolution to allow for a tribute in the Capitol to Frank Buckles as the representative of all World War I veterans during the 112th Congress. As the longest surviving veteran, Frank represents nearly 4.5 million U.S. soldiers, sailors, and airmen who joined forces with over 37 million Allied soldiers to defeat the Central Powers. These men witnessed atrocities such as gas warfare that were unprecedented at the time. Each and every serviceman made his own significant contribution to the war effort that cannot be understated. This generation of dynamic young men was able to alter the course of history for the betterment of each and every one of us here today. Frank, like many young men of this time, worked hard to enlist and serve his country, and in doing so helped to change our world.
As America's last surviving veteran of the First World War, Mr. Buckles represents our final link to a generation that built a legacy as the defenders of the free world in the first large-scale global conflict. I can promise you that his legacy and the legacy of all veterans will live on forever in the ideals and values that make America the strongest nation in the world. I appreciate the bipartisan support of our cosponsors and hope more will join our effort to honor such a special veteran.
