Political Quotes

“I rise to pay tribute to the ``greatest generation''--the veterans of World War II who fought so valiantly to save the world from tyranny. This weekend, thousands of veterans from World War II gathered on The Mall to witness the dedication of a memorial to their heroism and to their sacrifice. Many of us had also the opportunity to join them after the celebration, the recognition ceremonies, with our families on that Mall in tribute to them at this wonderful memorial. As President Bush said in his remarks to this remarkable group, ``When it mattered most, an entire generation of Americans showed the finest qualities of our Nation and of our humanity.'' It is fitting that Saturday's event was the largest gathering of surviving veterans in 60 years, and perhaps more than coincidental that the spring weather cooperated so beautifully for this truly historic day. Nearly 60 years have passed since the ``greatest generation'' won that terrible war. It seems inevitable now that America would defeat the forces of Naziism and fascism. Our enemies were wicked and freedom was right. But as President Reagan put it so eloquently in his address on the 40th anniversary of D-Day: For four long years, much of Europe had been under a terrible shadow. Free nations had fallen, Jews cried out in the camps, millions cried out for liberation. Europe was enslaved and the world prayed for its rescue. Here, in Normandy, the rescue began.…”