William Helms: “on July 31, 1995, Senator Dole and I introduced S. 1098, the Battle of Midway Memorial Act. Today I am proud to offer an…”

“on July 31, 1995, Senator Dole and I introduced S. 1098, the Battle of Midway Memorial Act. Today I am proud to offer an updated version of S. 1098 on behalf of the majority leader, Mr. Lott, the Senator from Hawaii, Mr. Akaka, the Senator from Arizona, Mr. McCain, and the Senator from Alaska, Mr. Murkowski. This bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to study the feasibility and advisability of establishing Midway Atoll as a national memorial to the Battle of Midway. It goes without saying that the sponsors of this bill strongly believe that this should be done without delay. I am confident that the Interior Secretary will agree. Mr. President, it was on June 4, 1942, that courageous American sailors, soldiers, and airmen stationed on Midway Atoll, and aboard 29 warships, clashed with 350 warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy in what became known as the Battle of Midway. When the smoke cleared, the small American force, under the overall command of Admiral Nimitz, had soundly defeated the Imperial Japanese Navy in one of the most spectacular and historically significant naval battles of all time, and a turning point in the Pacific theater in World War II. There is no reason to delay further the establishment of Midway Atoll as a national memorial to honor the American heros who fought and died there in defense of our liberties.”