21826 Hon. Bob Clement Hon. John T. Doolittle

21826 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS October 6, 2000 [then Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Southern HONORING THE GRAND OLE OPRY Yearwood, and Alison Krauss all have called Command] told you, the millions of tons of IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE ON the Opry stage home. These artists represent food and supplies that U.S. forces flew in and THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY CELE- just a fraction of the bright and talented per- gave out saved countless lives and helped to BRATION formers to grace the stage since its inception, literally rebuild entire regions from the whether at the War Memorial Auditorium, the ground up. HON. BOB CLEMENT Ryman Auditorium, or the Grand Ole Opry When Slobodan Milosevic unleashed a wave OF TENNESSEE House of today. of terror in Kosovo last year, America’s mili- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES My family has enjoyed an ongoing relation- tary was ready. We had soldiers in neigh- ship with the Grand Ole Opry over the years. boring countries preventing a wider war and Thursday, October 5, 2000 In fact my father, Governor Frank Clement, airlifting tons of food and supplies to save Mr. CLEMENT. Mr. Speaker, today I honor enjoyed strong friendships with many Opry thousands of Kosovar refugees. We had sail- a sacred historic institution, the Grand Ole members, often enlisting their talents for polit- ors and marines on ships and submarines in Opry in Nashville, Tennessee, on the occasion ical rallies across the state. In addition, Gov- the Adriatic, and naval aviators flying into of its 75th Anniversary as the longest continu- ernor Clement traveled to Washington and those dangerous Balkans skies. And we had ously running live radio show in the world. The testified on behalf of country music when its airmen engaging in the most precise cam- Opry and its colorful cast of characters are lyrics were under fire by Congress in the paign in the history of air power. They con- known and loved by individuals across the 1950s. ducted the vast majority of those 38,000 globe. Like any sacred institution, the Opry has en- NATO sorties. They took to the skies for 78 As a native Nashvillian, born and reared in dured sorrow, grief, and loss. It has faced ad- days with only two planes lost and not a sin- Music City USA, I truly appreciate the signifi- versity and strain. There have been joyous gle combat casualty. And while that record cance of country music and its influence on so times and laughter. But the Opry has endured was not achieved without stress on certain many people. Country music and its cousins, throughout each season. In the 1980s, George assets, that is a historic achievement of bluegrass, folk, gospel, blues and rockabilly, Jones touched our hearts as he sang, ‘‘Who’s which our forces and the American people truly have captured the heart and soul of our Gonna Fill Their Shoes’’ about the legacy of should be enormously proud. great nation, offering songs that spring from country music and its legendary artists. Jones Indeed, the true measure of America’s the fabric of America. Country lyrics espouse singled out performers such as Lefty Frizzell, military is the job they do every day. In our history, our faith in God, our love of family, Merle Haggard, Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, short, America needs to know that the U.S. and our appreciation for the value of freedom Willie Nelson, and Roy Acuff in the tune. He Armed Forces are the best trained, best edu- and hard work. With these melodies and also mentioned the Opry in the song lyrics, in- cated, best led, most respected and finest themes, country music appeals to listeners of spiring a new generation of country artists to fighting force the world has ever seen. all ages and from all walks of life. carry the torch. I’d particularly like to recognize So in closing, I want to recite a page from To honor and highlight the significance of the contributions of Ricky Skaggs, Marty Stu- America’s past that I believe points the way country music, in 1990, I sponsored and art, and WSM announcer Eddie Stubbs for to ensuring our military strength in the fu- passed legislation designating October as promoting the cause of traditional music and ture. Half a century ago, this nation stood at Country Music Month. Now Country Music educating the next generation about our rich the hinge of history, an unprecedented time Month and Country Music Week are nationally heritage in this new millennium. of both promise and peril. There was the recognized events each year, celebrated by Throughout the years the Opry and its cast promise, our victory in the Second World millions of individuals. of performers, announcers, advertisers, and War. But there was also the peril, a dawning The Opry has inspired a country music fan musicians have inspired and entertained us Cold War. And America’s very survival de- fair phenomenon; been the focus of a theme each Friday and Saturday night. For these val- manded that we think anew and act anew. park, hotel complex, television networks, mag- ued contributions and cherished memories we And so to navigate the shoals of the century azines, and movies; infused the tourism indus- are forever grateful to the Opry and those who that lay ahead, Arthur Vanderberg, a Repub- try in Tennessee; and given us an incredible have called it ‘‘home.’’ We salute the Grand lican Senator from Michigan, joined with amount of memorable music. Yet, the Opry’s Ole Opry for 75 wonderful years and offer our Harry Truman, a Democratic President from beginnings were humble. sincerest wishes for continuous success in the Missouri, and the nation came together In 1925, the ‘‘solemn old judge’’ George D. years to come. around a common foreign and defense policy Hay moved from Chicago’s WLS Barn Dance Thank you and God bless you. to defend freedom and to create a Marshall to Nashville, where he began broadcasting f Plan and an alliance called NATO that would and hosting the show that would later become eventually win the Cold War. the Grand Ole Opry. Hay eventually would HONORING OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL Today, in the long wake of our triumph in coin the phrase, ‘‘Grand Ole Opry’’ about the WINNER STACY DRAGILA that long struggle, America again stands at program, instantly giving it a name that would the hinge of history. Again there is the endure forever. With WSM’s strong 100,000- HON. JOHN T. DOOLITTLE promise, of the world’s sole economic and watt clear channel signal, the Opry could be OF CALIFORNIA military superpower. Again there is the heard for hundreds of miles across the United IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES peril, the new threats of this new century. States by thousands of people. As the show And to chart the nation’s course in our time, brought performers of traditional music to the Thursday, October 5, 2000 William Cohen, a Republican Senator from stage, a new genre of music was officially Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, today I rec- Maine, joined with Bill Clinton, a Demo- born—country music. ognize a native of my congressional district cratic President from Arkansas, to help re- Those early 1920s Opry performers in- who has brought glory and honor to herself, store a spirit of bi-partisanship to defense cluded mainly instrumental talents such as her family, and her fellow Americans. I wish to policy and to ensure that when it comes to banjo player Uncle Dave Macon and har- congratulate Stacy Dragila on recently winning our men and women in uniform, politics does monica player Deford Bailey. In the 1930s and the gold medal in the first-ever Olympic Wom- indeed stop at the water’s edge. 40s, vocalists such as the ‘‘King of Country en’s Pole Vault Competition. Ladies and gentlemen, in recent years we Music’’ Roy Acuff, Ernest Tubb, Hank Wil- Dragila grew up in Auburn, California, where have recognized that truth. We have worked liams, and Bill Monroe all took the stage, as she competed in goat roping as a child. As a with Congress to support and strengthen our did comedienne Minnie Pearl. heptathlete during her years on Placer High military. We have upheld our sacred pledge As the years passed, the talent pool grew School’s track and field team, she had little to care for America’s sons and daughters and the NBC Network picked up the show. idea that she would one day stand atop the who wear this nation’s uniform. That is the Such big names as Patsy Cline, Flatt and Olympic medals podium as a pole vault cham- message I wanted to bring to you today. Scruggs, Hank Snow, Hawkshaw Hawkins, pion. You see, when she was in high school, That is the message I hope you carry back to Jim Reeves, Red Foley, Marty Robbins, Mar- the pole vault was an event in which only your communities and the country. Thank tha Carson, Kitty Wells, Johnny Wright, Bill male competitors took part. you very much. Anderson, Connie Smith, Dolly Parton, Porter As the women’s pole vault has finally taken Wagoner, Garth Brooks, Pam Tillis, Trisha root in the United States, Stacy has quickly VerDate jul 14 2003 11:49 Jan 11, 2005 Jkt 039102 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 0689 Sfmt 9920 E:\BR00\E06OC0.000 E06OC0 October 6, 2000 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS 21827 established herself as the premier athlete in borders. We must stop American aid to India ‘‘The Politics of Genocide.’’ India also has her field. Each time she reaches a new per- and declare our support for self-determination killed more than 200,000 Christians in sonal best mark, she rewrites the world for the people of Khalistan, Kashmir, Nagalim, Nagaland since 1947, more than 70,000 Kash- miri Muslims since 1988 and tens of thou- record.

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