Bill Clinton: “I take time today to tell the Senate about a hero who made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of his Nation--a young man…”

“I take time today to tell the Senate about a hero who made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of his Nation--a young man who died in the Korean war. His name is Ralph Ray Mitola. He came from Broad Channel, NY. For those Senators who are not familiar with Broad Channel, it is a populated island in Jamaica Bay. It is part of Queens County, which is one of the boroughs of the City of New York. Cross Bay Boulevard connects Broad Channel to the Rockaways, which are a magnificent gateway to the Atlantic Ocean. The American Legion Broad Channel Memorial Post 1404 recently honored the memory of Ralph Mitola, and four other young men from Broad Channel who died in the Korean war. The occasion for the ceremony was the 50th anniversary of the armistice in Korea, which was observed by American Legion Post 1404 as part of the 85th Annual Queens County Convention Parade. Mr. President, July 27, 1953 is the day in history when negotiators signed the armistice agreement at Panmunjom. The armistice led to a North Korean withdrawal across the 38th parallel, and the Republic of South Korea regained its status as a free and democratic nation. Korea was a critical battleground in the defense of liberty against the totalitarian ideologies of the 20th century. Ralph Mitola left his home and traveled half a world away to the Korean Peninsula to defend freedom.”