S6036 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE October 5, 2020 Force in Europe during World War II, ceremony included my fellow commis- This is a historic accomplishment for Dwight David Eisenhower. sioners, including vice chairman Rep- Wyoming. The Cheyenne National Without Ike, it is not a stretch to resentative MIKE THOMPSON of Cali- Cemetery is the first veterans ceme- imagine that the trajectory of Amer- fornia, Senator JOE MANCHIN of West tery in Wyoming that is run by the De- ican history might have been signifi- Virginia, Senator GARY PETERS Of partment of Veterans Affairs. Before I cantly altered. It was General Eisen- Michigan, Senator DAN SULLIVAN of became a Senator, Wyoming was cam- hower who commanded a successful D- Alaska, Representative SANFORD D. paigning for a national cemetery with- Day invasion, which became a pivotal BISHOP, JR., OF GEORGIA, REPRESENTA- in the State. Once I was in the Senate, turning point in the Second World War. TIVE MICHAEL K. SIMPSON of Idaho, I had the opportunity to help advance It was President Eisenhower who Representative WILLIAM M. ‘‘MAC’’ this project with the help of veterans, waged peace, regulated atomic power, THORNBERRY of Texas, former Senator F.E. Warren Air Force Base, and the and protected the world against the Robert J. ‘‘Bob’’ Dole of Kansas, Alfred patriotic people of Wyoming. They are growing spread of communism. Geduldig, Susan Banes Harris, and all to be congratulated, and I know all Through it all, it was not selfish ambi- Catherine Ann Stevens. are thankful this day is finally here. tion or prestige that guided him, but Again, with General Eisenhower as The opening of this national ceme- rather his character and sense of duty. they were on the eve of the D-Day in- tery will allow veterans in rural areas He was born in Denison, TX, on Octo- vasion, soldiers of the 101st Airborne to be buried in their home State. Be- ber 14, 1890, as the third of seven sons. Division presented the colors. Speakers fore it was constructed, veterans had At the age of 2, Ike’s family moved to included me, Bret Bair, Senate Chap- to go to neighboring States in order to Abilene, KS, a lively community with a lain Barry Black, Representative MIKE be laid to rest. Now, the Cheyenne Na- famous frontier past where he devel- THOMPSON, Architect Frank Gehry, Ms. tional Cemetery will be used to serve oped his interest in exploring the out- Rachel Mast of Kansas who recited the approximately 22,000 veterans and their doors. Throughout his lifetime of lead- Pledge of Allegiance, Astronaut Chris families. Wyoming has worked for a ership, Ike never lost touch with his Cassidy from the International Space long time, in conjunction with the VA, western origins. As Kansas’ favorite Station, Secretary Condoleezza Rice, to give our State veterans what they son, Ike nurtured the values he learned Greta Van Susteren who introduced deserve: a place to rest in peace along- as a young boy, some of which guided Senator Bob Dole, David Eisenhower, side their fellow servicemembers. Bur- his decision-making as a leader. He Susan Eisenhower, and Secretary of ial services have also been expanded to placed the job and the mission—not the Interior David Bernhardt. Other Ei- veterans’ spouses and other eligible himself—at the center. With this heart- senhower family members present at family members, for they too have sac- felt ethic, he set the example for those the ceremony included Julie Nixon Ei- rificed so much for their country. around him. senhower, their son Alex and his chil- National cemeteries are a way to From Abilene to West Point and from dren, Mary Jean Eisenhower’s son Mer- honor our service men and women and Normandy to Washington, Eisenhower rill Eisenhower Atwater, and several serve as a constant reminder that free- embodied the humility, honesty, sin- members of the Gill family, relatives of dom isn’t free. It comes to us at great cerity, optimism, and fortitude that he Mamie Doud Eisenhower. cost and tremendous personal sacrifice. would call upon the country to emulate Enjoyed by all were musical perform- Each name that has been enshrined has in his first inaugural address on Janu- ances by the ‘‘The President’s Own’’ a story to tell about someone who left ary 20, 1953: ‘‘The productivity of our U.S. Marine Band, and Voices of Serv- family and friends, safety and security heads, our hands, and our hearts is the ice performers Master Sgt. Caleb behind to be part of a cause much source of all the strength we can com- Green, Staff Sgt. Ron Henry (Ret.), greater than themselves. In the end, mand, for both the enrichment of our Sgt. Maj. Christal Rheams, and Sgt. 1st many of them gave up all of their to- lives and the winning of peace,’’ he de- Class Jason Hanna. Guests at the cere- morrows so that today’s world might clared. ‘‘Whatever America hopes to mony and others joining via livestream be a better place for us all to live. bring to pass in the world must first and CSPAN were thrilled to experience I am extremely proud of the steps come to pass in the heart of America.’’ a flyover of F–16s piloted by soldiers of that the VA and the great State of Wy- As Americans, we owe a great deal to the 177th Fighter Wing of the New Jer- oming have taken in order to honor our the man who led the U.S. and Allied sey Air National Guard. The flyover oc- veterans. We must never forget the sac- Forces in the liberation of Europe and curred precisely at the end of the Na- rifices of these brave men and women. expelled the evil of Hitler’s Nazism. On tional Anthem performed by Voices of f the domestic front, we are transformed Service. Additionally, 26 members of TRIBUTE TO MICHIGAN’S by the fruit of his legacy as President, the West Point Alumni Glee Club de- VETERANS including: the Interstate Highway Sys- lighted guests with superb renditions tem, the National Aeronautics and of several songs, including ‘‘Grand Old Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I Space Administration, the Department Flag,’’ ‘‘World War II Medley,’’ and rise today to pay special tribute to the of Health, Education, and Welfare— ‘‘God Bless the USA.’’ proud Michigan residents who have now known as the U.S. Department of September’s dedication ceremony served in our Nation’s military and Health and Human Services and the was a fitting tribute to one of our their families. U.S. Department of Education—and the country’s finest leaders. The memorial When our country was at risk of frac- Federal Aviation Administration. Ike is now one of the 420 National Memo- turing in a brutal Civil War, the people also brought Alaska and Hawaii into rials and Parks under the stewardship of Michigan volunteered. When fascism the Union; eradicated segregation in of the National Park Service. I invite threatened freedom around the world, our Armed Forces; and deployed the all to visit the new Dwight D. Eisen- the people of Michigan fought back. Army’s 101st Airborne to Central High hower Memorial. And when faced with new dangers— School in Little Rock, AR, ensuring I ask my fellow Senators and all citi- from terrorism to pandemic diseases— that the law of educational integration zens to join me in celebrating Amer- the people of Michigan remain willing was followed by all States. ica’s 34th President and Supreme Com- to put our lives on the line on behalf of As chairman of the Dwight D. Eisen- mander during World War II by wishing the American people. hower Memorial Commission, I am Ike a happy 130th birthday. Whenever and wherever our Nation proud to report that construction on f needs us, the people of Michigan al- the national memorial of President and ways respond. In some families, this General Eisenhower, located on Inde- OPENING OF THE CHEYENNE spirit of service stretches back genera- pendence Avenue, SW, between 4th and NATIONAL CEMETERY tions. 6th Streets, is complete, and the me- Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, I rise to The Armsteads are one such Michi- morial is open to the public. speak on the opening of the Cheyenne gan family. Peter Armstead was origi- The commission hosted a dedication National Cemetery and the hard work nally from England, but when his new ceremony at the site the evening of that has been put in to this project Nation needed him, he answered the September 17, 2020. Participants in the over the past few years. call. He fought during the Civil War

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