A tribute to the last WWI veteran
This week, I was proud to announce that Congressman Ted Poe (TX-3) and I have introduced H.R. 938, which would establish a World War I Centennial Commission and dedicate the Liberty Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri as the National World War I Memorial. The bipartisan agreement to introduce the bill is in tribute to Mr. Frank Buckles, the last American veteran of World War I, who passed away on February 27, 2011.
Congressman Poe and I had competing bills in last Congress. I was able to achieve passage of the bill to designate the Liberty Memorial the national memorial by the House of Representatives in the 111th Congress. All but one Member voted for the bill. The Senate was unable to achieve passage of the measure before adjourning last year. This session of Congress, Congressman Poe and I have joined forces.
H.R. 938 is a bipartisan measure, and a fitting tribute to the men and women who gave their lives in defense of liberty in the war to end all wars. (insert picture of Frank Buckles)
For more than eighty years, hundreds of thousands of veterans of World War I, and their families, have come to the Liberty Memorial to remember lost friends and loved ones. As we remember the life and passing of Frank Buckles, the last of the World War I veterans, we will gather and bow our heads, like generations before, at the Liberty Memorial in Kansas City. Dedicated by the Supreme Allied Generals and consecrated by the President of the United States, the citizens of Missouri have long kept the sacred memory of those who sacrificed in the Great War.
The bill I have introduced with Congressman Poe reflects the Liberty Memorial's place as the nation's monument to the honored dead of World War I. It has memorialized their sacrifice since 1926, a time when the wounds were still fresh from the battlefield. Thousands have cried and prayed for their loved ones in the shadow of the Liberty Memorial. Designating the Liberty Memorial as the nation's memorial to the veterans of The Great War recognizes that with the passing of Mr. Buckles, ours is the only memorial that those who served ever saw. H.R. 938 will confirm the nation's commitment to the Liberty Memorial, and the men and women it memorializes."
As America approaches the 100th anniversary of World War I, the bipartisan sponsors emphasized that it is important to establish a commission that will properly honor the Americans who sacrificed and risked their lives in the war. In response to this need, H.R. 938 also creates a centennial commission based in Kansas City comprised of twenty-four members appointed from across the country. The commission will help organize businesses, and state and local governments to develop and execute centennial programs.
I invite you to join me tomorrow to honor of Mr. Frank Buckles and the 4.8 million Americans served in the Armed Forces during World War I, as the nation will once again gather at the Liberty Memorial tomorrow, Saturday, March 12, 2011, at 10 a.m.
This free, public event will include an address by former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Richard B. Myers, United States Air Force.
The outdoor ceremony will last approximately one hour and will take place regardless of weather conditions. Seating is limited. From 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., free shuttles to the Museum will run from the parking lots at the southwest and northwest corners of 27th & Warwick. The U-shaped driveway leading to the Museum will be reserved for handicapped parking only. All other attendees are encouraged to use the shuttle service provided or to park on legally designated streets or parking lots near the Museum.
I hope to see you there to honor the memory of these brave men and women.
Help for our friends in Japan
This morning an 8.9 earthquake struck just off the coast of Japan. Of course our thoughts and prayers are with the families affected throughout Japan and Southeast Asia. This afternoon the President spoke to the nation:
First and foremost, our thoughts and our prayers are with the people of Japan. This is a potentially catastrophic disaster and the images of destruction and flooding coming out of Japan are simply heartbreaking. Japan is, of course, one of our strongest and closest allies, and this morning I spoke with Prime Minister Kan. On behalf of the American people, I conveyed our deepest condolences, especially to the victims and their families, and I offered our Japanese friends whatever assistance is needed.
We currently have an aircraft carrier in Japan, and another is on its way. We also have a ship en route to the Marianas Islands to assist as needed. The Defense Department is working to account for all our military personnel in Japan. U.S. Embassy personnel in Tokyo have moved to an offsite location. And the State Department is working to account for and assist any and all American citizens who are in the country.
Tsunami warnings have been issued across the Pacific, and we've already seen initial waves from the tsunami come ashore on Guam and other U.S. territories, in Alaska and Hawaii, as well as on -- along the West Coast. Here in the United States, there hasn't been any major damage so far. But we're taking this very seriously, and we are monitoring the situation very closely. FEMA is fully activated and is coordinating with state and local officials to support these regions as necessary. And let me just stress that if people are told to evacuate, do as you are told.
Today's events remind us of just how fragile life can be. Our hearts go out to our friends in Japan and across the region and we're going to stand with them as they recover and rebuild from this tragedy.
For those of you with loved ones in Japan, please use the following resources:
PUBLIC INQUIRIES
If you have concerns about a specific U.S. citizen in Japan, please send us an e-mail at JapanEmergencyUSC@state.gov
If you have concerns about a specific U.S. citizen in the Tsunami zone outside of Japan, please send us an e-mail at PacificTsunamiUSC@state.gov
E-mail inquiries are strongly preferred, but you may call the Department's emergency assistance center at 1-888-407-4747 (Calling from outside the U.S. + 1-202-501-4444) if you are unable to use e-mail.
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PERSONNEL INQUIRIES
U.S. Forces Japan reports that all personnel have been accounted for, and there are no reports of injuries.
The Department of Defense instructs that family members of Department of Defense personnel should call 1-800-342-9647 to inquire about their loved ones or contact the individual unit command directly for more specific information.
JAPANESE AND OTHER CITIZENS
If you are calling regarding a Japanese citizen, please contact the nearest Japanese Embassy (Washington - 202-238-6700) or Consulate.
If you are calling regarding a citizen of a third country, please contact that country's Embassy or Consulate. Contact information for foreign Embassies and Consulates in the United States is available in the Country Specific Information links at www.travel.state.gov.
CONTRIBUTE
If you would like to contribute to assistance efforts in Japan the Japanese Red Cross has already deployed 11 national disaster response teams to respond to the crisis but you can support their efforts by donating money. Similar to their efforts to help Haiti after the earthquake in 2010, Red Cross is accepting donations either online or via text message. Simply text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10 from your phone (you'll be prompted to confirm with a second text reading YES).

Emanuel Cleaver, II
Member of Congress
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