John Mica: “Mr. Speaker, today the House has an opportunity to recognize the valor and sacrifices of 82 Americans who have earned…”

“Mr. Speaker, today the House has an opportunity to recognize the valor and sacrifices of 82 Americans who have earned the gratitude of our Nation. We often speak in this House of the debt that our Nation owes to the many men and women who have served our Armed Forces in defense of this country and its values. The story of these 82 American airmen forcefully reminds us of the price that others have had to pay to preserve our freedom. These men were held as political prisoners at the notorious Buchenwald concentration camp. Unlike other American prisoners of war, they were not entitled to the protections of the Geneva Convention. The unspeakable horrors of Buchenwald are well-known, but the ordeal of these men and what they experienced is not known. For 52 years, this Government has not formally recognized the bravery and loyalty of these 82 airmen. This resolution... will also educate Members of Congress and preserve for the American people the story, the history, and the bravery of these 82 heroic individuals.”