May 23, 1995 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E 1099

consolidates their relevant functions within the

State Department. This $200 million reduction

in operating expenses abolishes duplicative

legislative, legal, and administrative personnel.

In addition, with the savings derived from the

ending these wasteful programs, we are able

to fully fund narcotics control, antiterrorism,

and security programs.

Streamlining the foreign aid bureaucracy

and prioritizing our commitments abroad allows us to continue our deficit slashing agenda. The bill moves us closer to that goal and

represents a step in the right direction. Mr.

Speaker, I urge my colleagues to keep our

budgetary goals in mind as we continue to debate and fine tune this bill.

HISTORY PROPERLY DISPLAYED

fHON. DOUG BEREUTER OF NEBRASKA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, May 23, 1995

Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, this Member

would like to commend to his colleagues the

following editorial from the May 16, 1995,

Omaha World-Herald. This editorial properly

praises the National Archives for its straightforwward approach to displaying World War II

artifacts, photos, letters, and recordings. As

the editorial notes, the National Archives has

appropriately chosen to allow visitors to examine the display without being subjected to unnecessary and slanted commentary.

[From the Omaha World-Herald, May 16,

1995]

SIMPLE ARTIFACTS, PHOTOS, LETTERS

DESCRIBE WAR; NO NEED FOR ‘SPIN’

While the Smithsonian Institution was giving itself a black eye over its proposed Enola

Gay display, a different kind of World War II

exhibit was being prepared a few blocks

away.

Historians at the National Archives assembled artifacts, photographs, letters and recordings to tell the story of America’s involvement in World War II from Pearl Harbor to V-J Day. Their display tells the story

with power and poignancy—and without the

accusatory spin that tainted the

Smithsonian’s proposed Enola Gay display,

with its condemnation of the U.S. use of

atomic weapons.

The Archives display includes General Eisenhower’s handwritten draft of the statement with which he planned to blame himself if the Normandy invasion failed. There is

a bit of red fabric cut from the American flag

that was surrendered to the Japanese on Corregidor. The cloth was preserved by American POWs, carried on the Bataan death

march as a sacred symbol of their love for

America, passed from one GI to another

until the end of the war.

The Pearl Harbor attack is stunningly seen

in a film shot by a Navy photographer who

happened to be on deck with his camera

when the bombs started to fall. Hitler and

his cronies are shown in a photo album kept

by Eva Braun. The display includes photos of

battle scenes, victory celebrations and everyday life in the 1940s.

Giving the display a special quality are letters and diaries penned by the great and the

ordinary.

A declassified message from Prime Minister Winston Churchill to President Franklin Roosevelt is signed only with the word

‘‘Prime.’’ An American mother writes movingly to a son who will never live to read her

words.

The letters come from both sides of the

battle line. A letter by a Japanese officer explains why he felt the war was justified—

America, he said, had denied his country access to natural resources. A Japanese soldier

writes tenderly of his concern for his young

sister as the tide of war turns against Japan.

Gen. Erwin Rommel of the Wehrmacht expresses affection for his wife.

Of the U.S. use of atomic bombs, the text

says, ‘‘Argument about their employment

has continued almost increasingly ever since

1945, but in the context of the time, they

were seen as, and almost certainly were; lifesaving shortcuts to the end of the war.’’

The assessment is reasonable.

A few days ago, a citizen’s committee

made public a report about the future of the

Smithsonian. The panel said the facility

should not become a ‘‘home for congratulation.’’ The inclusion of that sneering statement suggests that someone on the panel

wanted the Smithsonian to become a court

in which the United States and Western civilization in general can regularly be put on

trial.

Good history, of course, isn’t cheerleading.

But neither does it consist of condemning

earlier generations because they didn’t live

up to the politically correct standards of the

present. Some of the best history consists of

unadorned facts, presented in their context.

That is what the National Archives, to its

credit, has produced.

IN MEMORY OF RICHARD SITER,

fU.S. NAVY

HON. GERALD B. H. SOLOMON OF NEW YORK

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, May 23, 1995

Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, as Memorial

Day approaches again this year, many people

and families around this Nation prepare weekend trips, picnics and barbecues. They can do

so because of the selfless service and sacrifice of the millions of men and women who

have served in the armed forces throughout

our history. These people defend and provide

the very freedoms we enjoy everyday, not to

mention those luxurious moments we look forward to spending with loved ones on days like

Memorial Day.

However, for a great deal of Americans, Memorial Day takes on a much more personal

meaning, a reminder of the loss of a loved

one. It is a time when millions of Americans

reflect on the memory of a loved one who

made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of our

nation and our freedoms. Mr. Speaker, I would

like to take this time to pay tribute to the service of one such American hero from the town

of Philmont, NY in my congressional district,

Lt. Richard Siter, U.S. Navy.

In the summer of 1992, Lieutenant Siter was

stationed aboard the air craft carrier, USS

John F. Kennedy off the coast of Puerto Rico.

Richard was a radar specialist in the Navy’s

air division and was assigned to an E–C2

Hawkeye aircraft. On July 31, 1992, Lieutenant Siter and the four other members of the

five man crew, were flying over the waters of

the Atlantic, well north of Puerto Rico, comprising the defense of our eastern shore. Upon

their return flight to the USS John F. Kennedy,

the five members of this Hawkeye crew would

suffer a terrible accident. Their craft went

down 75 miles north of Puerto Rico with no

survivors. Tragically, the body of Lieutenant

Siter and his fellow crewmen were never

found.

Mr. Speaker, these are the people we

should hold near and dear to our hearts as

this Memorial Day draws near. As we celebrate the golden anniversary of the end of

World War II and remember the thousands

who gave their lives in that monumental war,

let us not forget those, like Richard Siter, who

put their lives on the line daily to provide the

blanket of freedom beneath which our Nation

and our way of life has thrived.

At this time, Mr. Speaker, I would ask that

you, and all Members, join me in paying tribute to the service of Lt. Richard Siter and

send our condolences to his family. While they

suffered through the initial uncertainty of his

whereabouts, they can be bolstered by the

certainty that Richard is indeed counted

amongst great Americans. May he be both in

our hearts and our minds this Memorial Day

and always.

TRIBUTE TO JAMES J. MARTIN

AND RALPH KERMOIAN

fHON. BILL BAKER OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, May 23, 1995

Mr. BAKER of California. Mr. Speaker, in a

few days, two of California’s most outstanding

educators will retire after years of effective

public service.

Both James J. Martin and Ralph Kermoian

have served the Lafayette School District for

25 years. Dr. Martin is currently serving as superintendent of the district, and Mr. Kermoian

is assistant superintendent. Over the years,

they have filled many other roles in educational administration.

As of July 1, these dedicated men will leave

the Lafayette School District to pursue other

ventures. Their presence will be missed by the

thousands of present and former students who

have benefited from their dedicated stewardship of Lafayette’s schools.

It is a pleasure for me to join with the entire

Lafayette community in thanking James Martin

and Ralph Kermoian for all they have done to

enhance learning in the East Bay region. Bestowing the precious gift of knowledge on

young minds is both a challenge and a vital

need, and James and Ralph deserve much

credit for their roles in preparing future generations for tomorrow. I am most pleased to

recognize them in the CONGRESSIONAL

R

IN COMMEMORATION OF THE 125TH

ECORD

ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUND-

.

fING OF PIO NONO COLLEGE AND

HIGH SCHOOL AND THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING

OF DON BOSCO HIGH SCHOOL

HON. GERALD D. KLECZKA OF WISCONSIN

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, May 23, 1995

Mr. KLECZKA. I would like to commemorate

the 125th anniversary of the founding of Milwaukee’s Pio Nono College and High School

and the 50th anniversary of the founding of

my alma mater, Don Bosco High School.