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HONORING CHLOE CHANG OF PECK PLACE SCHOOL IN ORANGE, CONNECTICUT
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HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO
of connecticut
in the house of representatives
Thursday, June 24, 2021
Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, each year the community of Orange, Connecticut gathers for a solemn ceremony to mark Memorial Day. As part of this ceremony, local elementary school students are invited to submit essays that share their thoughts on Memorial Day and its meaning to them. Submissions from each of the community's three elementary schools are selected to be included in the ceremony. I had the opportunity to join the Orange ceremony this year and was inspired by the words of this year's winners and am pleased to have this opportunity to share them.
Chloe Chang, a student at Peck Place School submitted the following essay:
We dress in red, white, and blue, attend parades, and honor the men and women who have fallen in the Civil War. This holiday has been around for 182 years, and we still donate money, coupons, and flowers to the perished soldiers. Their sacrifices have allowed them to serve their country, putting the welfare of others before their own. How can we repay them? We can give a moment of silence, visit their burial ground, and learn about their history.
The holiday started in 1868, where North America was fighting to end slavery, and South America was fighting to preserve slavery. The war to end slavery lasted for over 4 years, and Robert E. Lee finally capitulated the last Confederate Soldiers to General Ulysses S. Grant.
``Decoration Day'' was declared by General John A. Logan in 1868. In ``Decoration Day'', flowers are laid on war graves in honor of the deceased. Memorial Day holiday was declared a national holiday in 1971 to honor those who have died in all American wars.
The Union Army has contributed immensely to our lives, and the least we can do is say a little thank you. The invaluable changes they made upon our history is indescribable, and we are forever indebted to them. These brave men and women have done much for their fatherland by sacrificing their own lives, and we continue to honor them on May 31, Memorial Day.
For more than two hundred years American soldiers have answered the call to defend our land and our values of freedom and democracy. With annual ceremonies like the one in Orange, that engage our youngest citizens, we ensure that we will never forget that our armed forces have a long and proud history, and that every one of our veterans has demonstrated outstanding courage, dedication, and service. It is my honor to rise today to thank Chloe Chang for her very special contribution to Memorial Day and her community.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 110
The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
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