EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS

∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor.

Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor.

May 1, 1995 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E 885

AMERICANS OBSERVE ‘‘NATIONAL

DAY OF PRAYER’’

HON. JACK FIELDS OF TEXAS

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Monday, May 1, 1995

Mr. FIELDS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, Thursday, May 4 marks the 44th consecutive observance of the National Day of Prayer.

I congratulate all those Americans who will

pause on that date to thank God for the blessings He has bestowed on our country, and to

ask for His continued guidance for our Nation,

its people and its leaders.

Even as we mourn the senseless tragedy

that occurred in Oklahoma City which killed

and injured so many of our fellow citizens and

brought sadness to so many other Americans,

we have much for which to be thankful.

We are free to practice—or not practice—

the religion of our choice. We are free to think

for ourselves and believe what we wish, and

we are free to voice our opinions without fear.

We are blessed with a free press that keeps

us informed of what is right, and what is

wrong, with our Government and our other

public institutions.

In comparison to other nations of the world,

we are a prosperous people—well-fed, wellhoused and well-clothed. Our system does not

guarantee success for every one of our citizens, but it does allow each American to advance as high as his talents and hard work

can carry him.

Yes, our Nation has problems, and yes,

there is injustice in our country. But in the

United States, more than in any other nation

in the world, all of our people have an opportunity to succeed. That opportunity is what

drew immigrants to ‘‘the new world’’ in the

17th century; it’s what drew settlers to ‘‘the

colonies’’ in the 18th century; it’s what motivated countless men and women to settle the

West in the 19th century; and it’s what continues to draw men and women from around the

world to our shores in the 20th century.

Just as important, we Americans have in

place a judicial system within which injustices

can be eliminated, and within which wrongs

can be righted peacefully, without resolve to

violence. While our system of justice is not

perfect, and while mistakes can occur, no

once can deny the fact that America’s judicial

system has served our country and our people

well for more then two centuries.

The idea that we Americans should pause

and reflect on our blessings, and ask for

God’s guidance, is nothing new, National day

of prayer have been part of our Nation’s heritage since the first one was declared by the

Continental Congress in 1775. Through the influence of Gen. George Washington, many of

our founding fathers and succeeding presidents, prayer became an essential foundation

upon which the United States of America was

established and upon which it has grown.

On Thursday, through the collective prayers

of citizens from every State and territory of our

country, all Americans will have the opportunity to acknowledge our dependence upon

God; recognize our need to renew moral values in our personal and professional lives;

seek God’s guidance for our Nation’s governmental and community leaders; give thanks for

the many blessings which our country has received from Him through the years; pledge

ourselves to the restoration of marriage and

family commitments; and intercede for healing

and reconciliation within our Nation.

The participation of millions of American

men and women in this year’s National Day of

Prayer will ensure that the event will be a success. As someone who believes in the power

of prayer, and as someone who depends upon

prayer in my daily life—both personal and professional—I sincerely thank everyone who

takes part in this important annual event, as

well as every American who keeps the interests of our nation, its people and its leaders

in their prayers on a daily basis.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and may God

bless you, our great Nation, and each and

every American.

SALUTE TO THE GLENS FALLS

fARMORY

HON. GERALD B.H. SOLOMON OF NEW YORK

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Monday, May 1, 1995

Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, for 100 years,

the Glens Falls Armory has been a conspicuous landmark on Warren Street and a source

of pride for the people of this small city I call

home.

During those 100 years, units

headquartered at the armory have served in

both world wars. At the outbreak of World War

I, Company K, 105th Infantry, 27th Division

was activated from August 8, 1917, through

April 1, 1919. In World War II, Company K of

the 108th Infantry, 27th Division was activated

from October 15, 1940, through December 31,

1945.

The armory was designed by the famous architect Isaac G. Perry, who helped design and

construct the State Capital in Albany. The armory consists of 24,055 square feet, including

a garage added in 1959.

First opened in 1895 to house a company of

the New York National Guard, the armory

presently serves as headquarters for two

NYNG units, the 646th Medical Company and

Detachment 1, Company C, 3d Battalion,

108th Infantry.

That first unit, the 18th Separate Company,

was also known as the Rockwell Corps or the

Citizens Corp. And that, Mr. Speaker, reminds

me why the armory is so special.

It’s a symbol of the citizen soldier who has

fought in all our wars, from Concord and Lexington to the arid plains of Iraq.

The backbone of our Armed Forces for 200

years has been the National Guard and Reserves, men and women from every walk of

life who proudly devote several hours a month

to the defense of their country.

The response of this country to crises has

always been speeded by the high state of

readiness of our guardsmen and reservists. I

can’t tell you how proud I am of them.

The men and women who serve in these

units are all-around outstanding citizens, contributing to their communities in more ways

than one. The armory itself has long been a

focus of community life in the Glens Falls

area.

Mr. Speaker, on May 6, the scene will be

the scene of a centennial celebration, complete with tours, displays, and speeches.

I ask all Members to join me in a salute to

the Glens Falls Armory and to all the patriotic

Americans who have served there over the

last 100 years.

SUE MIKOLAJCZYK RECEIVES 1995

POLISH HERITAGE AWARD

f

HON. GERALD D. KLECZKA OF WISCONSIN

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Monday, May 1, 1995

Mr. KLECZKA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to

congratulate Ms. Sue Mikolajczyk on receiving

the Pulaski Council of Milwaukee’s 1995 Polish Heritage Award.

In selecting Sue Mikolajczyk as the 1995

Polish Heritage Award recipient, the Pulaski

Council has honored a woman who has devoted countless hours of work to preserving

the richness of Milwaukee’s Polish-American

heritage.

It has long been a goal of our community to

build a Polish-American Community Center.

This goal is closer to becoming a reality because of the commitment, hard work, and

sheer determination of people like Sue

Mikolajczyk. Her outstanding efforts as coordinator of Polishfest’s weekly bingo games have

helped to ensure a steady source of funds for

the development of the community center and

more importantly, have helped to sustain the

dream which guides our Polish-American community forward.

In addition to her involvement with

Polishfest, Sue Mikolajczyk has been actively

involved in a number of other Polish cultural

organizations in our area and has assumed

leadership positions in several of these organizations. Groups such as the Polish National

Alliance, the Polish-American Congress,

Polanki, and the Polish Womens’ Alliance

have all benefited from Sue’s talents, determination, and willingness to take charge.

At a time when it seems that more and

more people are forgetting their roots, Milwaukee’s Polish-American heritage, thanks to the

efforts of people like Sue Mikolajczyk, remains

as alive and vibrant as ever. I commend Sue

on her outstanding efforts on behalf of Milwaukee’s Polish-American community and I congratulate her on receiving the 1995 Polish

Heritage Award.