February 14, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E191 COMMEMORATING THE 20TH ANNI- leagues to join me and our Azerbaijani friends formances on Good Morning America and at VERSARY OF THE KHOJALY in commemorating the tragedy that occurred in the Outback Bowl in Tampa, Florida. MASSACRE the town of Khojaly. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in applauding the exceptional musical f HON. STEVE COHEN achievements and patriotic commitment of the IN RECOGNITION OF THE ALBANY members of the Albany Marine Band. These OF TENNESSEE MARINE BAND—MARINE CORPS fine men and women have served as excellent IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES LOGISTICS BASE, ALBANY, ambassadors for our country and the United Tuesday, February 14, 2012 GEORGIA States Marine Corps and I will remain eter- nally grateful to them for their many note- Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to com- worthy accomplishments and selfless acts of memorate the 20th anniversary of the Khojaly HON. SANFORD D. BISHOP, JR. service. massacre by Armenian armed forces on Feb- OF GEORGIA f ruary 25–26, 1992 in the town of Khojaly in IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. THANK YOU TO OUR OPERATION Tuesday, February 14, 2012 Khojaly, now under the occupation of Arme- IRAQI FREEDOM AND OPERATION nian armed forces, was the site of the largest Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise NEW DAWN VETERANS killing of ethnic Azerbaijani civilians in the today to salute one of our nation’s most pres- course of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict. tigious and accomplished United States Ma- HON. ROBERT J. WITTMAN Khojaly, once the home to 7,000 people, rine Corps bands—the Albany Marine Band OF VIRGINIA stationed at the Marine Corps Logistics Base was completely destroyed. Six hundred thir- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES teen people were killed, of which 106 were in Albany, Georgia. After 22 years of distin- women, 83 were children and 56 were pur- guished service, members of the Albany Ma- Tuesday, February 14, 2012 ported to have been killed with extreme cruelty rine Band will be performing a farewell concert Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to and torture. In addition, 1,275 people were on Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at the Albany recognize those men and women who have taken hostage, 150 went missing and 487 Municipal Auditorium at 7 p.m. in Albany, served this great Nation while conducting people became disabled. Also in the records Georgia. combat operations in Iraq over the past 9 maintained, 76 of the victims were teenagers, The farewell concert has been titled years. From March 20, 2003 until December 8 families were wiped out and 25 children lost ‘‘Thanks for the Memories’’ and admission to 31, 2011 our Nation’s Soldiers, Sailors, Air- both of their parents while 130 lost one of their the event is free. The musical performance will men, and Marines supported Operation Iraqi parents. According to Human Rights Watch feature many of the band’s greatest hits from Freedom and Operation New Dawn while and other international observers, the Arme- over the last several years, including many of serving in Iraq. During this time they disarmed nian armed forces were reportedly aided by the group’s most notable award-winning and removed Saddam Hussein from power, the Russian 366th Motor Rifle Regiment. pieces. freed a country and its people from years of At the time, Newsweek magazine reported: Mr. Speaker, last December, amid budg- suffering under an oppressive dictatorship, ‘‘Azerbaijan was a charnel house again last etary constraints, it was announced by the and fought a brutal insurgency. Many mem- week: a place of mourning refugees and doz- Marine Corps Headquarters in Washington, bers of our all-volunteer force, the greatest all- ens of mangled corpses dragged to a make- D.C., that the Albany Marine Band would be volunteer force in history, served multiple com- shift morgue behind the mosque. They were cut along with the Marine Corps band sta- bat tours in Iraq during this time with little ordinary Azerbaijani men, women and children tioned at Twentynine Palms, California. Al- dwell time at home. of Khojaly, a small village in war-torn though their mission is coming to an end, the More than 1.5 million members of the Nagorno-Karabakh overrun by Armenian Albany Marine Band’s legacy of musical excel- United States Armed Forces served in Oper- forces on 25–26 February. Many were killed at lence will not soon be forgotten. ation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn close range while trying to flee; some had Over the last couple decades, the members conducting operations against a dangerous and determined enemy force. 4,474 members their faces mutilated, others were scalped.’’ of the Albany Marine Band have honorably of the United States Armed Forces made the As part of the Khojaly population that tried represented our country and been recognized ultimate sacrifice while serving in Operation to escape, they encountered violent ambushes repeatedly for their harmonious innovations Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn and that led to abuses, torture, mutilation and and inspiring melodic renditions. In December 32,223 members of the United States Armed death. The Russian organization, Memorial, of 2003, the band was awarded the distin- Forces were wounded during almost 9 years stated that 200 Azerbaijani corpses were guished Commander in Chief Installation Ex- of military operations in Iraq. During this time brought from Khojaly to Agdam within four cellence Award. This prestigious award recog- four Medals of Honor, the highest United days. nized the members of the Albany Marine Band States award for military valor, were awarded for their pride and commitment in performing Time magazine published the following de- for service in Operation Iraqi Freedom and their duties. scription: ‘‘While the details are argued, this Operation New Dawn, additionally, at least much is plain: something grim and uncon- In 2010 and 2011, the Albany Marine Band 327 Silver Stars, 21 Navy Crosses, and 15 scionable happened in the Azerbaijani town of was recognized as the United States Marine Distinguished Service Crosses were awarded Khojaly 2 weeks ago. So far, some 200 dead Corps Band of the Year. Additionally, in 2011, to members of the United States Armed Azerbaijanis, many of them mutilated, have the band also received the ‘‘Best Live Record- Forces. been transported out of the town tucked inside ing Award’’ in a competition among the twelve I stand today to recognize the tremendous the Armenian-dominated enclave of Nagorno- United States Marine Corps bands. personal sacrifice of the members of the Karabakh for burial in neighboring Azerbaijan. Due to their musical excellence, the Albany United States Armed Forces who served in The total number of deaths—the Azerbaijanis Marine Band has performed at locations Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New claim 1,324 civilians have been slaughtered, throughout the United States and around the Dawn, many of whom were committed to mul- most of them women and children—is un- world. The band has traveled more than fifty tiple deployments away from loved ones, and known.’’ thousand miles to perform over one hundred the contributions of military families on the The extent of the cruelty of this massacre commitments in destinations such as Essex home front. The bravery and service of our all- against women, children and the elderly was Junction, Vermont; New Orleans, Louisiana; volunteer force, the best and the brightest that unfathomable. This anniversary reminds us of San Antonio, Texas; and the Statue of Liberty our Nation has to offer, adds to the enduring the need to redouble efforts to help resolve in Liberty, New York. It is also worth noting legacy of the proud history of our armed the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict. The United that the Albany Marine Band was given the forces. I am committed to honoring the mem- States as a Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk great honor of being selected to represent the ory of these heroes for their courage and sac- Group should continue to stay engaged in the United States in 2004 as it performed for the rifice. To all the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and resolution of this protracted conflict. Changing of the Guard at the Citadel in Que- Marines who served in Iraq during Operation Mr. Speaker, Azerbaijan is a strong ally of bec City, Canada. Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn, wel- the United States in a strategically important The Albany Marine Band has also per- come home and thank you for your service to and complex region of the world. I ask my col- formed for nationwide audiences during per- the United States of America. VerDate Mar 15 2010 04:48 Feb 15, 2012 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K14FE8.011 E14FEPT1 pwalker on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with REMARKS E192 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks February 14, 2012 HONORING SOUTHLAKE POLICE I am extremely proud to represent Officer An- for U.S. Nationals. American Samoa has been OFFICER NATE ANDERSON derson and to recognize him as a Star of the a territory of the United States for over one 24th. hundred years, and has in many ways adopt- HON. KENNY MARCHANT Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 24th Congres- ed parts of American culture. The education sional District of Texas, I ask all my distin- OF TEXAS system in American Samoa is modeled after guished colleagues to join me in thanking IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES the U.S. education system and students learn Nate Anderson for his outstanding act of char- Tuesday, February 14, 2012 both English and about the U.S.