Nick Rahall: “I am proud to join Chairman Pombo as an original cosponsor of this measure, along with the ranking member on our Parks…”

“I am proud to join Chairman Pombo as an original cosponsor of this measure, along with the ranking member on our Parks Subcommittee, Representative Donna Christensen. We urge our colleagues to approve H.R. 4882. While the fighting ended more than 30 years ago, our work as a nation to reconcile with all that took place during the Vietnam Era continues. Just as the Revolutionary War gave birth to our liberty, and the survival of our Union through the Civil War and two World Wars gave us strength, the lessons of the Vietnam War can grant us wisdom; and while the emotions stirred by that war in the hearts and minds of Americans are many and varied, the journey this Nation has taken with regard to Vietnam resembles nothing so much as a journey of grieving. We grieve for the fallen, for the bereft families, for the survivors and their painful scars, and for the wounds inflicted on the country and the people of Vietnam. Mr. Speaker, the experts tell us that there are stages to the grieving process. In those 30 years, we have experienced them each in turn. The process began with denial and with anger. For a time, we denied Vietnam its rightful place in American history as we denied those who fought and died their rightful place in the pantheon of American heroes. And Lord knows we have felt the anger. To our shame, we directed much of that anger at those who served. We have also lived through what the experts call the bargaining phase.…”